From Paris to Marseille, thousands of people – mostly women, but many men too – demonstrated today calling for a universal framework law to tackle violence against women.

“The more we are, the more we will become visible, it’s an issue that concerns everyone, not just womensaid Peggy Plou, who took part in the Paris demonstration along with tens of thousands of people – 80,000 according to the organizers.

In Marseille, in the south of France, about 800 peoplemostly young people, gathered in the Old Port to denounce sexist violence. “To break the law of silence, shame to change sides” and “No means no”, were written on the placards held by the protesters.

“I feel that it concerns me, all of us can play a role, especially mens” explained 38-year-old Arno Garset, who participated with his two children in the mobilization. “We are the source of the problem and the source of the solutions as well“, he noted.

A little further away, a woman wore a badge where she had crossed out the phrase “Protect your daughters” and replaced it with the slogan “Educate your sons.”

These demonstrations took place two days before International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Womenon Monday.

This year’s mobilization against all forms of violence (sexual, physical, psychological, financial…) is taking place in France under special circumstances, against the background of the trial of 50 men accused of raping for a decade the 70-year-old Giselle Peliko since she was drugged, unbeknownst to her, by her husband. This case, which shocked the country and global public opinion, “shows that the culture of rape is rooted in society, as is violence against women,” said Amandine Cormier, of the organization “Feminist strike“, in a recent press conference. “Patriarchal violence is practiced everywhere, in homes, workplaces, study areas, on the road, in means of transport, in nursing institutions, everywhere in society,” he stressed.

The call for mobilization was signed by more than 400 organizations and personalities, including singers and actresses. “Successive governments have multiplied the promises but the means are insignificant and decreasing, the political action is almost non-existent” they said in their declaration calling for a “real leap”.

In November 2017, a few months after assuming the presidency, Emmanuel Macron declared that the first goal of his presidency would be to promote equality between men and women and the “total elimination of violence against women”. Measures taken (such as a telephone number for victims to report) were welcomed by women’s rights associations, although they were considered insufficient. They are asking for an amount of 2.6 billion to be invested. euros annually to combat violence and to pass a “single framework law” to replace the current, “fragmented and incomplete” legislation.

Undersecretary for Equality Salima Saa said earlier this month that she would announce on November 25 “specific and effective measures».