CRBC News
Culture
Society
Security
Health
Conflict
Science
Technology
Politics
Environment
Lifestyle
Economy

Tens of Thousands Rally Across France Demanding Urgent Action on Violence Against Women

Tens of thousands marched across France to demand stronger action and funding to tackle violence against women, with organisers estimating around 50,000 participants in Paris. Protesters called for a comprehensive framework law and a proposed €3 billion implementation budget, alongside better education and support services. Government figures from MIPROF show an 11% rise in intimate-partner femicides to 107 in 2024, while rates of sexual assault and harassment remain alarmingly high. Campaigners say at least €2.6 billion annually is needed to adequately protect victims.

04:40 AM, 11/23/2025Society
Tens of Thousands Rally Across France Demanding Urgent Action on Violence Against Women

Tens of thousands of people across France braved freezing temperatures on Saturday to protest the continuing epidemic of violence against women and press for stronger public measures and significantly increased funding.

In Paris, organisers estimated around 50,000 participants — with no official tally yet released — who carried placards, chanted, danced and sang as they marched through the capital. The demonstration was organised by the Greve feministe (Feminist Strike) collective, an alliance of roughly 60 groups, and drew hundreds of smaller rallies in cities across the country.

"A man kills a woman every 2.5 days in France,"
read a placard distributed by the feminist collective NousToutes. Another sign highlighted that "nine out of 10 victims know their rapist," underscoring how often perpetrators are acquaintances, partners or ex-partners.

Sylvaine Grevin, president of the national femicide victims' federation and who lost her sister in 2017, addressed the crowd before the Paris march: "It's 2025 — is it still normal to count our dead women?" Protesters, many wearing purple — a colour associated with feminist movements — echoed calls for systemic change.

Demands and official figures

The groups behind the protests are urging lawmakers to adopt a comprehensive framework law to tackle all forms of gender-based violence, with a proposed implementation budget of €3 billion (about $3.5 billion). They also want strengthened education programs and increased funding for organisations that provide shelters, counselling and legal assistance to survivors.

Official figures published by MIPROF, the government agency charged with protecting women from violence and combating human trafficking, show an 11 percent rise in intimate-partner femicides between 2023 and 2024, with 107 women killed by a partner or ex-partner in 2024. MIPROF additionally reports that a woman becomes a victim of rape, attempted rape or sexual assault roughly every two minutes in France, while sexual harassment, indecent exposure or unsolicited sexual imagery occurs about every 23 seconds.

The Women's Foundation, a national women's rights group, estimates the minimum annual government funding needed to protect victims of domestic, gender-based and sexual violence at €2.6 billion — around 0.5 percent of the state budget. Protesters say these figures demonstrate why legal reform and sustained funding are urgently required.

"We have the right to be loved without being abused," said 20-year-old student Juliette at a rally in Lille, a sentiment echoed by many attendees, particularly younger demonstrators demanding prevention, accountability and better survivor support.

As the demonstrations concluded, organisers urged political leaders to translate public outrage into concrete legislative action and long-term budgets to protect victims and prevent future violence.

Similar Articles

Trending