Protesters exposed France’s failures in handling domestic violence as alarming statistics surfaced.
Dozens gathered in central Paris Tuesday night, condemning rising gender-based violence and honouring victims.
Marie-Josée, 78, said activists remain “constantly overwhelmed” as the crowd remembered five women killed by partners or ex-partners last week.
The protest occurred hours before authorities received a report urging radical reforms in domestic abuse prosecutions.
Officials submitted the report to Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, recommending magistrates focus solely on intrafamilial violence.
Le Parisien revealed the report ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, warning that domestic violence demands a comprehensive approach.
Despite decades of political promises, protesters said women’s safety continues to decline.
Marie-Josée said equality has regressed since the 1990s and criticized society’s indifference toward women, especially seniors.
Her frustration reflects a mounting crisis: in 2024, 107 women died at the hands of partners or ex-partners, up 11% from 2023.
Data Reveals Escalating Crisis
MIPROF reported that more than three women suffer femicide or attempted femicide daily in France, and the numbers keep rising.
Activist organisations warned that official figures fail to reflect the full scale of the emergency.
The government’s observatory added that every seven hours, a woman dies, faces murder attempts, or attempts suicide due to a partner or ex-partner.
Women over 70 accounted for 26% of victims, a nine percent increase in one year.
The case of 72-year-old Gisèle Pelicot, drugged by her husband and abused over a decade, shocked France and the world.
Her ordeal revealed that older women also suffer sexual violence, a problem long ignored due to sexist and ageist stereotypes.
Violette, of the Solidaires Union, said society dismisses older victims because “they are considered not bankable like younger women.”
She added that media attention around Pelicot faded quickly and insisted reforms should not rely on temporary public outrage.
Funding and Strategy Remain Inadequate
Violette criticized France’s inconsistent and underfunded approach to domestic violence prevention.
She said organisations require €3 billion annually to make meaningful progress.
The government’s 2025 gender equality budget provides only €94 million, far below expert recommendations.
The Council of Europe described France’s low prosecution rate as “particularly worrying” and urged stricter enforcement.
As Parliament debates new policies and organisations push for long-term investment, protesters warned authorities still underestimate the crisis’s severity.
