Dozens of demonstrators filled central Paris to protest rising gender-based violence and honor victims.
Marie-Josée, a 78-year-old activist, said protesters constantly face harsh realities while mourning five women killed last week.
The demonstration occurred hours before the government received a report urging radical reforms in domestic abuse justice procedures.
Officials submitted the report to Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, recommending a magistrate dedicated exclusively to intrafamilial violence cases.
Le Parisien revealed the study before the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, warning domestic violence requires a comprehensive response.
Despite longstanding political promises, many protesters argued conditions for women in France continue to worsen.
Data Shows Crisis Intensifies
Marie-Josée criticized a regression in equality since the 1990s and questioned societal indifference toward women, especially seniors.
In 2024, France recorded 107 femicides, an 11% increase from the previous year.
MIPROF data shows more than three women suffer femicide or attempted femicide daily, and the numbers rise annually.
Activist groups warned the statistics fail to capture the crisis’s full scale.
The government’s annual observatory reported that every seven hours, a woman dies, faces attempted killing, or suffers coercion toward suicide.
Women aged 70 and above accounted for 26% of victims, up nine percent from last year.
The case of 72-year-old Gisèle Pelicot, drugged and raped for years, exposed the hidden reality of sexual violence against senior women.
Funding and Strategy Remain Inadequate
Violette, a Solidaires Union member, said authorities often dismiss older victims as less “bankable” than younger women.
She warned society reacts briefly to high-profile cases, then returns to inaction.
Violette blamed incoherent strategy and chronic underfunding for insufficient protection.
She said experts estimate €3 billion is necessary annually, yet the government allocated only €94 million in 2025.
The Council of Europe criticized France’s low prosecution rate and urged stronger enforcement measures.
As Parliament debates reforms and activists demand long-term investment, protesters argued officials still underestimate the crisis’s severity.
