 "A protester, front left, holds placard reading \"1000 feminicides under Macron presidency \" during a march for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in Paris, France, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. Image- AP")
Thousands rallied in Paris and other French cities on Saturday, demanding justice for victims of femicides and sexual violence. The protests, which saw large crowds of both women and men, highlighted the fight against gender-based violence and called for stronger reproductive rights protections.
Participants also voiced concerns over the potential rollback of women’s rights, fueled by the election of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. Protesters also expressed solidarity with Gisèle Pélicot, whose harrowing trial against her ex-husband and other men accused of raping her while she was drugged and unconscious has sparked widespread outrage over sexual violence in France.
“Unfortunately, anybody can be a perpetrator of violence. It can be our brothers. It can be our fathers. It can be our colleagues. It can be our bosses. I think that’s the big shock for people,” said Maelle Noir, representing the feminist collective “Nous Toutes” — which translates as ”All of us.”
“There is no typical profile of who the rapist could be and there is also no typical profile of who the victim could be,” she said.
Protest organisers demanded increased government spending to fight sexual and sexist violence and promote gender equality.
With inputs from agencies.