In France, 74 women were killed by their partners in 2019
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NGOs and relatives of women murdered by their partners rallied in Paris on Saturday to call on the government to take more decisive action de protect women from femicides.
At least 74 French women have been killed by their other-half or ex-partners so far this year, more than at the same time last year, according to the “Femicides par compagnons ou ex” (Femicides by partners or exes) NGO.
“Last year, we counted 120 femicides,” a representative for the NGO — who preferred to remain anonymous — told Euronews.
“There is no lull period: a woman is killed approximately every two days,” she added.
NGOs, including “Femicides par compagnons ou ex”, want protection orders to be more widespread.
“There should be an investigation as soon as there is any suspicion of domestic violence, like they do for a burglary,” the collective told Euronews. They highlighted that among those killed this year, many had already gone to the police over domestic violence issues but that their concerns had not been taken seriously.
They also want the French authorities to assist violent men by “organising treatment and rehabilitating them” but also to distance them from their partners and children instead of having the women and their children move into “shelters that are often full and struggling with the demand.”
“They come out of a conjugal hell and are plunged into another kind of hell, while their violent partners are at home and can continue to harass them through the children because they retain their parental rights,” they said.
“Spain has reduced the number (of femicides) by one-third by taking measures that France does not seem ready to take. In France, we are really lagging behind,” they added.
