Thousands march against violence against women in France Women’s Rights News

Demonstrations between the growing anger of women killed by their partners and the growing talk of sexual harassment and abuse by French women.

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 sparked growing anger among women in the country over the deaths of their partners and the growing sexual harassment and abuse of French women.

Demonstrators marched in the capital behind a large banner, “Stop sexist and sexual violence.”

“We are always blaming women,” said Paris protester Ghislaine Gireire-Revalier, who expressed sympathy for women trapped in violent domestic situations.

“What we forget is the phenomenon of being in one’s own hands … it’s like a spider gradually encircling you in its web.”

Groups fighting violence against women say at least 101 women have been killed this year by their partners or ex-partners in France, about one woman every three days.

More than 220,000 women each year are experiencing physical or sexual abuse by their partners, according to a 2017 national study.

Activists call on the government of President Emmanuel Macron to dedicate 1 billion euros ($ 1.1 billion) a year to tackling violence against women, instead of spending 360 million euros ($ 406 million) now to create more shelters.

Demonstrator Meryll Le Goff said “measures are in place such as a telephone for those at serious risk,” a special phone with a police warning button.

More than 2,500 such phones were being deployed in the country in September, the Justice Ministry said.

“But there aren’t enough for everyone,” Le Goff said. “Measures that are half-done, men that are temporarily arrested or imprisoned but eventually released without measures … that’s the problem.”

The protests are part of a week of global action celebrating International Day Against Violence Against Women.

Activists call on the government of President Macron to dedicate 1 billion euros ($ 1.1 billion) annually to tackling violence against women. [Adrienne Surprenant/AP]