On major protest marches in Paris and Rome, tens of thousands of people took to the streets on Saturday to draw attention to violence against women. In the French capital, entire streets were bathed in purple - the color of movement. In the Italian capital, on the other hand, life in the historic center was temporarily paralyzed by the huge protest march. The demonstrations took place in the run-up to the International Day Against Violence against Women, which is celebrated annually on 25 November.
In Paris alone, 49,000 people took to the streets, according to an independent census commissioned by several media. Nationwide, there were about 30 rallies. Among other things, the participants wanted to draw attention to the high number of so-called femicides - that is, killings of women because of their gender. They also demanded better protection for women. Signs in Paris included "Break the silence, not the women" or "Aggressors, stalkers, you're done, the women are on the streets".
The organizers even spoke of 100,000 demonstrators in Paris alone. It was about the "biggest march in French history" against sexist and sexual violence, said one of the organizers, Caroline De Haas. Nationwide, 150,000 people took to the streets. Almost 70 organizations, political parties, trade unions and associations had called for the protests.
According to AFP, there have been at least 116 femicide cases in France this year, compared to 121 in the past year. Experts from the Council of Europe accused France of a lack of shelters and lax laws this week. Justice Minister Nicole Belloubet had acknowledged the failure of public institutions. "Our system does not manage to protect these women," said Belloubet. The French government plans to present results of a round table against domestic violence on Monday.
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his solidarity with the protest on Twitter. "I support any woman who has experienced gender or sexual violence," wrote the President. He will continue to mobilize the government and the nation for this great cause.
Women's murders "like a virus"
Tens of thousands of people marched in Rome behind a banner with the motto "Against your power, we are revolution" through the city. Most of them were women.
In Italy, 94 women were murdered this year, according to media reports. Only on Friday was a 30-year-old woman stabbed in Palermo by a man with whom she had a relationship. "Unfortunately, it seems like a virus, a horrible thing that happens, and it does not trigger the social scandal it ought to do," said former Parliament President Laura Boldrini as one of the celebrities among the demonstrators.
Andreas Solaro / AFP
Protesters in Rome
According to women's organizations, a woman dies every 72 hours in Italy by the power of a man she knows, usually the partner. Three out of four so-called femicides take place at home.
To commemorate the victims, all participants of the demonstration in Rome sat quietly on the street for a few minutes. According to the organizers, they wanted to set an example for all those women who could no longer raise their voice because they had died from the violence of men.