Protesters exposed failures in France’s response to domestic violence as new data alarmed the nation.
Dozens filled central Paris on Tuesday night and condemned the escalating gender-based violence while they honoured victims.
Activist Marie-Josée, 78, voiced her despair as the crowd remembered five women killed last week by partners or former partners.
Demonstrators gathered only hours before the government received a major report urging drastic reform in the justice system’s handling of domestic abuse.
Officials submitted the report on Tuesday to Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin and urged the state to test a magistrate dedicated solely to intrafamilial violence.
Le Parisien revealed the report earlier this week before the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
The document warned that domestic violence requires a fully integrated strategy.
Despite repeated political promises, many protesters insisted conditions for women in France continue to worsen.
Marie-Josée stated that equality has declined since the 1990s and expressed confusion over widespread indifference toward women, especially older women.
Her anger reflected a broader emergency as 107 women died in 2024 at the hands of partners or ex-partners, marking an 11% increase from the previous year.
Mounting Evidence of a Deepening Crisis
Fresh government data from MIPROF showed that violence against women rises daily and now involves more than three femicides or attempted femicides every day.
Activist groups warned that these numbers still fail to capture the full extent of the emergency.
The annual government observatory reported that every seven hours a partner or former partner kills, attempts to kill, or pushes a woman toward suicide.
Women aged 70 and above accounted for 26% of victims, representing a nine percent increase in one year.
The case of 72-year-old Gisèle Pelicot, drugged by her husband and raped by dozens of men for a decade, horrified the world.
Her ordeal exposed hidden violence against older women, long ignored due to sexist and ageist stereotypes.
Violette, a Solidaires Union member at the protest, said society often dismisses older victims because people view them as less marketable than younger women.
Regarding the Pelicot case, she said the shock faded quickly and insisted action should not depend on media uproar.
She argued that France’s overall strategy remains inconsistent and severely underfunded.
Violette claimed that organisations need €3 billion annually to drive meaningful progress.
Political Pressure and Public Fear
The government’s 2025 budget for gender equality offers only €94 million, far short of demands from expert groups.
The Council of Europe previously called France’s low prosecution rate dangerous and urged stricter enforcement measures.
As Parliament studies new proposals and organisations intensify calls for sustained funding, protesters on Tuesday night expressed fear that officials still underestimate the scale of the crisis.
