Gang rape case sparked demonstrations in France

The investigation into 51 men in the southern city of Avignon is in its final stages; dozens of men, including one who drugged his wife for a decade and are accused of accepting an invitation to abuse her in their home.

“The more we are, the more visible we are, this is an issue for everyone, not just women,” Peggy Plou, an elected official in the Indre-et-Loire region of western France, said on the street. Trip to Paris.

Thousands of people marched in the capital alone, mostly women but also children and men. Police said attendance was 12,500, while organizers said it was 80,000.

While police sources said that 35,000 people participated across the country, organizers stated that this figure was 100,000.

Hundreds of people also attended in other major cities such as Marseille in the south, Lille in the northeast and Rennes in the northwest. Local officials in Bordeaux in the southwest estimated attendance at 1,600.

Many demonstrators carried signs bearing various versions of the slogan “Shame must switch sides,” popularized by Gisele Pelicot, one of the plaintiffs in the Avignon case.

Despite its painful content, she became a feminist hero by choosing public hearings rather than trying her case behind closed doors.

– Law reform –

Retired nurse Marie-Claire Abiker (78), walking in Paris, said: “A law on consent needs to be enacted very quickly. Just because someone doesn’t say anything doesn’t mean they agree to sexual intercourse.”

France’s legal definition of rape calls it “any act of sexual penetration committed by violence, restraint, threat or surprise” but does not include any mention of consent – a key demand of women’s rights groups, especially since the launch of the MeToo movement in the late 2010s. .

“In 2018, it was basically just women (demonstrating). Today, let’s say it’s 30 percent men. That’s really great news,” said Amy Bah, a member of the NousToutes (All Women) feminist group protesting in Lille. .

“I feel like this is my job too, each of us has a role to play, especially men,” said Arnaud Garcette, 38, at the demonstration with his two children in the historic port of Marseille.

“We are at the source of the problem, and we are at the source of the solutions,” he added.

The demonstrations, called by more than 400 campaign groups, took place two days before the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which will be held on Monday.

Equality Minister Salima Saa promised “concrete and effective” measures to coincide with the global day.

Prime Minister Michel Barnier will announce measures including increased training for police officers and more support for victims of domestic violence who have fled their homes, according to a report Sunday in the weekly Tribune Dimanche.

Campaigners who organized Saturday’s protests are calling for broader measures to tackle the problem, including a 2.6 billion euro ($2.7 billion) special budget and a stronger legal framework.

During his first term as president of France, Emmanuel Macron has promised to prioritize the cause of equality between men and women and work to eliminate violence against women.