Paris, France – Over 110 French cities witnessed massive protests with tens of thousands of participants demanding stricter measures to combat sexual violence. These mobilizations follow escalating public anger over the rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl. In addition, this case has sparked a wave of severe criticism of the judicial authorities’ performance and the procedures followed in such cases.
Widespread Protests Across French Cities
Protesters gathered in the capital, Paris, and several other cities, including Toulouse and Dijon, raising slogans and banners demanding the protection of children and women and stricter prosecution of perpetrators of sexual violence crimes. Organizers indicated that about 100,000 people participated in the Paris march alone. Moreover, these protests were organized through broad coordination among about 180 human rights and civil associations seeking to bring about a radical change in the state’s response to these crimes.
Severe Criticism of the Judicial System
These angry demonstrations broke out after the murder of the young girl Liana, whose body was found following her disappearance. The anger worsened after it was revealed that the suspect faced previous allegations of child rape. Investigations had been closed or stalled in the past. These facts prompted calls for the resignation of Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, who apologized for what he described as a “dismal failure,” but simultaneously refused to step down. In a related context, Anne-Cécile Mailfert, president of the Fondation des Femmes, confirmed that the majority of rape reports do not result in decisive judicial procedures. She noted that a lack of funding and resources allocated for investigations directly leads to many abusers escaping punishment.
Calls for a Comprehensive Law and Urgent Reforms
The protesters demanded that the government enact a comprehensive and strict law to confront sexual violence. This law must include strengthening prevention measures, improving criminal investigation mechanisms, and providing greater support and resources for victims. For his part, French President Emmanuel Macron expressed deep concern over the impact of the failures in this case on citizens’ trust in state institutions. This comes at a time when official reports have pointed to clear shortcomings in the conduct of investigations related to child abuse reports. In addition, there is a severe lack of resources dedicated to handling these sensitive files.
