Protesters across France demand comprehensive law and €3 billion budget to combat rising femicides and violence against women
PARIS: Thousands of protesters marched across France on Saturday demanding stronger action against violence toward women.
In Paris, crowds waved signs and chanted while moving through the capital in protests organised by the Greve feministe collective.
Organisers claimed 50,000 participants while police estimated 17,000 attended the Paris demonstration.
“A man kills a woman every 2.5 days in France,” read one placard distributed by the feminist collective NousToutes.
Another sign stated “Nine out of 10 victims know their rapist” highlighting the prevalence of acquaintance violence.
“It’s 2025, is it still normal to count our dead women?” said Sylvaine Grevin, president of the national femicide victims’ federation.
Hundreds of protesters also gathered in other French cities, creating crowds awash in purple symbolism linked to feminism.
“We have the right to be loved without being abused,” said 20-year-old student Juliette in Lille.
The associations demand adoption of a comprehensive framework law against violence with a €3 billion budget.
They also call for improved education and funding for groups supporting violence victims.
Official figures showed intimate partner femicides rose 11% between 2023 and 2024 with 107 women killed.
A woman becomes a victim of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault every two minutes in France.
Sexual harassment, indecent exposure, or unsolicited sexual content occurs every 23 seconds according to MIPROF.
The Women’s Foundation estimates the government should allocate €2.6 billion annually to protect victims.
This represents approximately 0.5% of the total state budget for comprehensive victim protection. – AFP
