Tens of thousands of protesters have marched through Paris to demand more government investment to prevent deadly domestic violence against women.
A wave of purple flags and signs snaked from the Place de l’Opera through eastern Paris amid an unprecedented public campaign to decry violence against women – and to honour the 130 women that activists say have been killed in France this year by a current or former partner.
The problem has been described as ‘France’s shame’ by President Emmanuel Macron.
Thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets of Paris to protest against domestic violence against women
The protesters want to highlight the 130 women in France who have been killed by their partners or former partners this year
The protesters were joined by (from second left) actress Alexandra Lamy, French Senator and former minister Laurence Rossignol and actress and model Laetitia Casta
While France has a progressive reputation and pushes for women’s rights around the world, it has among the highest rates in Europe of domestic violence, in part because of poor police response to reports of abuse. Many of the women killed this year had previously sought help from police.
At the march – one of the biggest demonstrations this year in Paris – French film and TV stars joined abuse victims and activists calling for an end to ‘femicide’. Many held banners reading ‘Sick of Rape’.
The protest came on the UN’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and is aimed at pressuring the French government before it unveils new measures to tackle the problem.
The measures are expected to include seizing firearms from people suspected of domestic violence and prioritising police training so they will not brush off women’s complaints as a private affair.
The protesters claim that France has some of the highest levels of domestic abuse in the European Union
It is believed that 137 women have been killed in France this year by the partners or their former partners
Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets earlier today in Paris and Rome to protest against domestic violence
French actress and director Eva Darlan, centre, pictured wore a badge claiming: ‘Macron, your silence is killing us’
The demonstrators gathered in front of the Opera Garnier in Paris to protest against ongoing violence against women
Alyssa Ahrabare, spokeswoman for activist group Try Feminism, said: ‘We live in a culture that finds excuses for assailants.’
She called for better training for people in police stations and hospitals who come into contact with victims of domestic violence, and more shelters for abused women.
Some marchers want 1 billion euro in government investment, though the funding is expected to fall far short of that.
French activists have stepped up efforts this year to call attention to the problem, with an unusual campaign of gluing posters around Paris and other cities every time another woman is killed.
In Rome, Italians held a National March against Male and Gender Violence organised by the feminist group ‘Non una di Meno’
Thousands of people stood in central Rome for the Commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in Rome
March organisers ‘Non Una de Meno!’ (Not One Less!) say 94 women have been killed by their partners or former partners this year
The posters honour the women, and call for action. They also hold protests, lying down on the pavement to represent the dead women.
A 2014 EU survey of 42,000 women across all 28 member states found that 26 per cent of French respondents said they been abused by a partner since the age of 15, either physically or sexually.
That is below the global average of 30 per cent, according to UN Women. But it is above the EU average and the sixth highest among EU countries.
Half that number reported experiencing such abuse in Spain, which implemented a series of legal and educational measures in 2004 that slashed its domestic violence rates.
Conversations about domestic violence have also ratcheted up in neighbouring Germany, where activists are demanding that the term ‘femicide’ be used to describe such killings.
In Italy, tens of thousands of people, mainly women, marched in the capital Rome.
This woman held up a message in French at the Rome demonstration claiming Feminicides, not one more
Banners from political parties and unions were absent at the request of the organisers and many of those taking part wore pink, the colour of choice for the demonstration
March organisers ‘Non Una de Meno!’ (Not One Less!) say 94 women have been killed by their partners or former partners this year.
The procession moved through the city’s old quarter behind a large banner that read: ‘Against your violence, we are in revolt!’
Banners from political parties and unions were absent at the request of the organisers and many of those taking part wore pink, the colour of choice for the demonstration.
‘We are the fierce and powerful voice of all those women who no longer have a voice,’ said one banner.
A float that played music along the route also broadcast the names of women killed by their partners or ex-partners this year.
‘Everywhere in the world, women are revolting against patriarchal, racist, institutional, environmental and economic violence,’ said a statement from Non Una Di Meno.
At 4:30 pm the marchers sat down on the ground and remained silent for a few minutes in memory of the women who had been killed.
Italy’s Economy Minister Roberto Gualtieri on Saturday announced 12 million euros would be released to help the children of women killed by their partners.
It will be used to fund scholarships, medical costs and professional training, he tweeted.
A float that played music along the route also broadcast the names of women killed by their partners or ex-partners this year
These women held up posters proclaiming ‘Parent Two’, left, and ‘Parent Three’, right during the protest in Rome