Demonstrations come amid growing outrage over women killed by their partners and as French women are increasingly speaking out about sexual harassment and abuse.
Tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets across France to demand more government action to prevent violence against women.
Saturday’s demonstrations, in Paris and other French cities, came amid growing outrage in the country over women killed by their partners and as French women are increasingly speaking out about sexual harassment and abuse.
Protesters marched in the capital behind a large banner saying, “Stop sexist and sexual violence.”
“We are always putting the blame on women,” Parisian demonstrator Ghislaine Gireire-Revalier said, expressing sympathy for women who are trapped in violent domestic situations.
“What we forget is the phenomenon of being in one’s grip … little by little it’s like a spider that surrounds you in its web.”
Women demonstrating behind a banner reading ‘Stop to sexist and sexual violence’ [Adrienne Surprenant/AP]Groups fighting violence against women said at least 101 women have been killed by their partners or former partners in France this year – about one woman every three days.
More than 220,000 women are suffering physical or sexual abuse by their partners each year, according to a 2017 nationwide study.
Activists are urging President Emmanuel Macron’s government to dedicate 1 billion euros ($1.1bn) annually to fight violence against women, instead of 360 milli