France unveils new measures to combat violence against women

France announced Monday, November 25, a new campaign to combat violence against women, including raising awareness about the use of drugs to commit sexual abuse, as the country reckons with a mass rape trial that has shocked the public. Equality Minister Salima Saa unveiled a raft of initiatives two days after tens of thousands of people staged new demonstrations in French cities against violence targeting women, where protesters denounced government actions as “window-dressing.”

The case of Dominique Pelicot has caused outrage in France. The 71-year-old is on trial over raping and recruiting dozens of strangers to rape his heavily sedated wife for almost a decade in the village of Mazan. He is in the dock with 50 other men, many of whom have denied the accusations.

There will be “a before Mazan, and an after Mazan just like there was a before and after #MeToo”, Saa said during an interview with broadcaster Franceinfo. But advocates are calling for more far-reaching measures, including a dedicated €2.6 billion budget and a stronger legal framework to tackle the problem.

The government will extend the network of hospitals where victims can report an incident from 236 to 377 by the end of 2025, Saa said, marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. “A woman will be able to lodge a complaint at all hospitals with an emergency department and a gynecological service,” she said.

Focus on drugs

Saa also announced an awareness campaign about the use of drugs to commit sexual abuse, which she called “a new scourge.” As part of the campaign, a helpline “can provide answers and advice and tell you which laboratory to go to, what to do with your hair, blood, and urine tests,” Saa said.

Prime Minister Michel Barnier said on Monday France will reimburse the purchase of drug detection kits in several areas of France on a trial basis, though he did not offer a timeline for its implementation. The budget for emergency assistance to help victims of domestic violence leave their homes will increase from €13 million to €20 million in 2025, a measure that has benefited 33,000 people since it was introduced at the end of 2023.

“We have succeeded in obtaining a 10% increase in the budget” devoted to gender equality, totaling €85.1 million, Saa said. But that number falls far short of demands coming from women’s rights associations, which are calling for €2.6 billion euros and a “comprehensive legal framework” to replace current legislation that advocates say is “fragmented and incomplete.”

During his first term as president, Emmanuel Macron vowed to work to eliminate violence against women, a message Saa reiterated, calling it the “great cause” of his presidency. In 2023, police recorded more than 110,000 victims of sexual violence – 85% of them women. Since the start of the year, 122 women have been killed, according to the feminist group NousToutes (All of Us Women).