Dozens of protesters filled central Paris Tuesday night to denounce rising domestic violence and honour recent victims.
Activist Marie-Josée, 78, lamented, “We are constantly overwhelmed by reality,” as the crowd remembered five women killed by partners last week.
Protesters rallied hours before officials received a major report urging a radical reform of France’s domestic abuse justice system.
The government submitted the report to Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, recommending magistrates specialized exclusively in intrafamilial violence cases.
Le Parisien revealed the findings earlier this week ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
The report warned that domestic violence requires a comprehensive, coordinated approach across all institutions.
Statistics Reveal Deepening Crisis
Despite long-standing political promises, protesters said conditions for women continue to worsen in France.
Marie-Josée criticized declining equality since the 1990s and expressed frustration at societal indifference toward older women.
Authorities reported that 107 women died at the hands of partners or ex-partners in 2024, an 11% increase from the prior year.
MIPROF data shows that every day more than three women experience femicide or attempted femicide, a number rising yearly.
Government studies also reported that every seven hours, a partner kills, attempts to kill, or drives a woman to suicide.
Women aged 70 and older accounted for 26% of victims, up nine percent from the previous year.
Older Women Remain Invisible Victims
The case of 72-year-old Gisèle Pelicot, abused over a decade, shocked France and the world.
Her ordeal exposed that sexual violence also targets senior women, a reality often ignored due to ageist and sexist assumptions.
Violette, from the Solidaires Union, said society dismisses older victims because “they are considered not bankable as younger women.”
She added that Pelicot’s case briefly captured attention but quickly faded, warning against waiting for media shocks to act.
Violette criticized France’s incoherent and underfunded strategy, noting organisations estimate €3 billion annually is required for progress.
The government’s 2025 budget allocated just €94 million, far below the necessary level for effective nationwide policies.
The Council of Europe called France’s low prosecution rate alarming and urged stricter enforcement measures.
Protesters warned lawmakers and officials that the government still underestimates the crisis’s severity.
