France unveils plan to halt violence against women

PARIS: France on Monday announced new measures to combat violence against women by their partners or ex-partners, seeking to toughen up the law as concern grows over the number of femicide murders in the country. Prime Minister Edouard Philippe made the announcements on the UN-backed International Day for Eliminating Violence against Women, two days after tens of thousands had taken to the streets across France in a show of solidarity.

Expressing hope that the plan would prove an "electric shock", he said the measures would seek to broaden the definition of violence, including how harassment can lead to suicide. Since the start of 2019, at least 117 women have been killed by their partner or ex-partner in France, according to a case-by-case study by AFP based on media reports. The figure shows no improving trend -- last year, 121 women lost their lives in femicides.

Meanwhile each year, 213,000 women are victims of physical and or sexual violence on the part of their partner or ex-partner, according to the latest official figures. The announcements by Philippe focussed on ending what he described as "absurdities" and "dysfunctional aspects" in the law.