Mass Protests Sweep France Demanding Action on Violence Against Women
Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across France on Saturday, calling for stronger measures to combat gender-based violence. The protests, organized by the Greve feministe collective, drew tens of thousands, with Paris alone seeing an estimated 50,000 participants according to organizers, while police reported 17,000.
Protesters highlighted alarming statistics: a man kills a woman every 2.5 days, and nine out of ten rape victims know their attacker. Demonstrators, dressed in purple as a symbol of feminism, marched through city streets chanting, singing, and calling for justice. Government data from MIPROF shows intimate partner femicides rose 11 percent from 2023 to 2024, with 107 women killed by partners or ex-partners last year.
The movement is pushing for a comprehensive law against violence and a multi-billion euro budget to protect victims, fund support services, and improve education. Activists say a minimum of 2.6 billion euros annually is required to effectively implement these measures. With a woman being sexually assaulted every two minutes and harassment occurring every 23 seconds, the protests underscore the urgency for systemic change.
