Protesters exposed major failures in France’s domestic-violence response as new data alarmed the nation.
Dozens of demonstrators filled central Paris on Tuesday night and condemned the rising gender-based violence.
They honoured five women killed last week by partners or former partners in France.
Seventy-eight-year-old activist Marie-Josée voiced deep frustration as the crowd remembered the victims.
She said the brutal reality constantly overwhelms people.
The demonstration unfolded hours before the government received a major report demanding urgent reforms.
Officials handed the document to Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin on Tuesday.
Experts urged France to test a magistrate dedicated solely to intrafamilial-violence cases.
Le Parisien revealed the report earlier this week.
The document said domestic violence requires a fully coordinated national strategy.
Many protesters insisted conditions for women continue to worsen.
Marie-Josée said equality has regressed since the 1990s.
She said she cannot understand the persistent indifference toward women, especially older ones.
Her concerns reflect a deepening crisis.
In 2024, partners or ex-partners killed 107 women nationwide.
That number marked an 11% rise from the previous year.
Data Exposes Worsening Violence
Government data published last week showed a daily average of more than three femicides or attempted femicides.
MIPROF reported a relentless annual increase.
Activist groups warned the statistics still underestimate the true scale of the emergency.
The government’s observatory reported grim patterns.
It said a woman is killed, nearly killed, driven to suicide, or attempts suicide every seven hours.
Women aged 70 or older represented 26% of victims.
That figure showed a nine-percent rise in one year.
The horrific case of 72-year-old Gisèle Pelicot shocked the world.
Her husband drugged her and enabled repeated rapes by many men over a decade.
The case exposed a hidden truth.
Older women also experience severe sexual violence.
Sexist and ageist assumptions long buried this reality.
Violette, a Solidaires Union member, said society often dismisses older victims.
She said people consider them “not bankable” compared with younger women.
She said the Pelicot case briefly awakened the public.
She added that attention quickly faded again.
She insisted society must not wait for fresh scandals before acting.
Calls for Funding and Real Reform
Violette said France still lacks a coherent and adequately funded strategy.
She argued the country needs €3 billion annually to advance meaningful change.
The government’s 2025 gender-equality budget provides only €94 million.
Organisations say this sum cannot sustain an effective national policy.
The Council of Europe earlier criticised France’s low prosecution rate.
It urged France to apply stronger measures and enforce them consistently.
As Parliament studies new proposals, activists demand long-term investment.
Protesters on Tuesday night said officials still underestimate the crisis.
