Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of major French cities on Saturday, rallying against violence towards women as public outcry intensified over a mass rape trial that has shocked the nation.
The case involves 51 men, including one who drugged his wife over a decade and invited others to abuse her in their home. Prosecutors in Avignon are expected to seek sentences against the accused in the coming week.
Protesters marched in cities like Paris, Marseille, Lille, and Rennes, carrying signs with slogans such as “Shame must switch sides”—a phrase championed by the plaintiff, Gisèle Pelicot. She has been widely praised for opting for public hearings despite the harrowing details of her case.
Peggy Plou, an elected official from western France who joined the Paris protest, said, “The more of us there are, the more visible we are. This is everyone’s business, not just women’s.”
In Paris alone, thousands marched, with men, women, and children standing in solidarity. Many called for urgent changes to France’s laws, which define rape as “any act of sexual penetration… by violence, constraint, threats, or surprise” but omit explicit references to consent—a critical demand from activists since the #MeToo movement began.
Marie-Claire Abiker, a retired nurse participating in Paris, emphasised the need for legal reform, saying, “Just because someone doesn’t say something doesn’t mean they agree to sexual contact.”
Amy Bah of the feminist group NousToutes noted an encouraging rise in male participation, saying, “”In 2018, there were basically only women (demonstrating). Today there are, let’s say, 30 percent men. That’s really great news.”
The protests, supported by over 400 organisations, coincided with the lead-up to the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on Monday. Equality Minister Salima Saa pledged the introduction of “concrete and effective” measures to address the issue.
