Trending 
Thousands of demonstrators gathered across France, including an estimated 50,000 in Paris, to demonstrate against persistent violence and femicide against women.
Organised by the Greve feministe (Feminist Strike) collective, the demonstrators demanded immediate public action and a major increase in funding to combat this pervasive issue.
Participants highlighted sobering statistics, noting that in France, a woman is killed by a partner or ex-partner every 2.5 days, and nine out of ten rape victims know their assailant.
The protests were prompted by recently released official figures showing that intimate partner femicides rose by 11 per cent between 2023 and 2024, resulting in 107 women killed.
Furthermore, government data indicates a woman is a victim of rape or attempted rape every two minutes and sexual harassment every 23 seconds.
The collective demands include the adoption of a comprehensive framework law dedicated to fighting gender-based violence, backed by a €3 billion budget for implementation.
They also called for better public education and robust funding for organisations supporting victims.
The Women’s Foundation estimates the minimum annual budget required for victim protection should be €2.6 billion.
