They demand a “startle” and one “comprehensive framework law”: more than 400 organizations and personalities are calling to demonstrate on Saturday against violence against women, against a backdrop of shock waves caused by the extraordinary rape trial in Mazan.
Demonstrations are planned in dozens of cities, including Paris, Bordeaux, Marseille and Lille, two days before the International Day Against Violence Against Women, Monday.
In Paris, the procession must leave at 2 p.m. from Gare du Nord to reach Place de la Bastille.
This mobilization against all forms of violence (sexual, physical, psychological, economic, etc.) is taking place this year in a particular context, in the middle of the Mazan rape trial – around fifty men accused of having raped Gisèle Pelicot then that she was unconscious, drugged without her knowledge by her husband.
This trial with international resonance, where the indictment scheduled for three days will take place from Monday, “shows that rape culture is rooted in society, like violence against women”underlined Amandine Cormier, of Grève feministe, during a press conference Wednesday in Paris.
“Patriarchal violence occurs everywhere, in homes, in workplaces, places of study, in the street, in transport, in healthcare establishments, absolutely everywhere in society”she added.
The call for mobilization was signed by more than 400 organizations (Women’s Foundation, Family Planning, #Noustoutes…) and personalities (Angèle, Judith Godrèche and Vanessa Springora…).
Legislation “incomplete”
Unions, including the CGT and the CFDT with their general secretaries Marylise Léon and Sophie Binet expected in Paris, will also be represented in the processions.
“Successive governments have made many promises but the means are paltry and decreasing, political action is almost non-existent”deplore the signatories, who call for a “real start”.
In November 2017, a few months after his accession to the Élysée, Emmanuel Macron declared equality between women and men “great cause of the five-year term”with for “first pillar” the struggle “for the complete elimination of violence against women”.
An emergency call number, 3919, for women victims of violence and their entourage, has been set up as well as serious danger telephones and anti-reconciliation bracelets in particular.
Measures welcomed by women’s rights associations who, however, consider them insufficient and urge the Head of State to change gear.
They demand a total budget of 2.6 billion euros per year and a “comprehensive framework law” to replace current legislation that they consider “fragmented and incomplete”.
At the beginning of November, the Secretary of State for Gender Equality Salima Saa promised that she would announce “concrete and effective measures” for November 25.
These measures will aim, among other things, to “improve the go-to systems” victims, particularly in rural areas, strengthen “the reception and care of victims” via a “training of front-line actors”she clarified.