France Sees Mass Protests Against Violence Toward Women

Thousands of demonstrators marched across France on Saturday to protest rising violence against women, calling for stronger government action and increased funding to tackle what activists describe as a deepening national crisis.

In Paris, crowds filled the streets in a vibrant display of chants, music and dancing. Organizers estimated attendance at around 50,000 participants, while authorities placed the figure at 17,000.

The marches were organized by the Grève Féministe collective, a network of around 60 groups, ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on 25 November.

Throughout the capital, demonstrators held signs highlighting the scale of the issue, including statistics warning that a woman is killed by a partner or ex-partner every two and a half days in France, and that most victims of rape know their attackers.

Before the Paris march set off, Sylvane Griffin, president of the National Union of Femicide Victims — whose sister was killed in 2017, expressed deep frustration, questioning why France is still counting femicide victims in 2025.

Despite freezing temperatures, hundreds also marched in cities including Lille, where participants wore purple, a color widely associated with feminist movements.

Juliette, a 20-year-old student in Lille, said women deserve the right to love without fear of abuse.

The organizations behind the nationwide demonstrations are urging the French government to adopt a comprehensive framework to combat gender-based violence, backed by a €3 billion budget. They are also calling for improved education on gender equality and increased funding for groups that support survivors.

According to new government data published Thursday by Mirov, the state agency responsible for combating violence against women and human trafficking, femicides committed by partners or former partners rose by 11 percent between 2023 and 2024. A total of 107 women were killed by intimate partners during that period.

Mirov also reported that in France a woman is raped, sexually assaulted, or subjected to an attempted rape every two minutes. Every 23 seconds, a woman faces sexual harassment, exposure, or receives unwanted sexual content.

The Women’s Foundation estimates that the minimum budget required to adequately protect victims of domestic, gender-based and sexual violence is €2.6 billion, roughly 0.5 percent of the national budget.