HCHR- French society has become profoundly sexist and misogynistic, and the unprecedented and ever-increasing rate of femicide, often perpetrated by current or former partners, bears testament to this fact. France is also one of the European countries with the highest rate of femicide per capita. Notably, women aged 65 and over comprise a quarter of all femicide victims. Feminist campaigners have blasted the French government for failing to protect women from gender-based violence, and called for stricter government action after three women were allegedly killed by their current or former partners on the first day of 2022.
Out of 300,000 rapes committed per year, 60% are committed on victims under 11 years old. Furthermore, among victims of sexual assault, rape, or sexual harassment under the age of 18, more than three-quarters are women. Women with disabilities are also at greater risk of violence and sexual assault. In 2018, 7.3% of people with disabilities reported experiencing physical and/or sexual violence in the past two years, compared to 5% with no disabilities. Gender and misogynist stereotypes also strongly affect minority and immigrant women. Therefore, being a woman in France is socially discriminatory. In 2021, most of the female victims were victims of insults, threats, and verbal abuse – irrespective of age. 25.6% of victims aged from 18 to 29 were threatened or insulted, and 14.7% of them were victims of discriminatory behavior.
In 2021, the number of victims of homicides related to domestic violence amounted to 143. In addition, it appears that the women most affected that year were those aged over 70. Women between 30 and 49 were also among the most at risk.
The High Council for Equality between Women and Men has sounded the alarm about the high rate of sexual violence reported by women in France. A recent survey reveals that one-third of women reported having been badgered by their partners into sexual acts against their will. Around one in seven of the women surveyed say men had forced sex on them, and a similar number reported having been hit by their partners. In France, one in 10 women suffer physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, most often at the hands of a partner or ex-partner
Homelessness is a critical social issue in France. Estimates suggest that it affects over 140,000 people, with 30,000 of them being children. Homeless people in France don’t have a great survival rate, either. Homelessness constitutes “a risk of entry into prostitution” for immigrant women, according to the Abbé Pierre Foundation, which published a report on poor housing in France The French Foundation Against Execution says: “In addition to forced prostitution in the context of prostitution rings, homelessness can lead to prostitution as a means of regaining financial autonomy and a housing solution. The number of homeless people stagnated at 143,000 until 2020, but reached 300,000 in 2021.
French prisons reached record levels of inmates in 2022, with 72,809 languishing behind bars. The French Ministry of Justice says prison density in the country has reached 120%, with some 2,225 prisoners having to sleep on mattresses on the floor. This comes after the European Court of Human Rights condemned prison conditions in France in 2020. Among the prisoners, 3.6% are women, and 0.8% are minors While the number of women and girls in prison has grown by almost 60%, the male prison population increased by around 22%.
Women in France received an average gross pension of €1,154 in 2020, 40% less than the €1,931 earned by men. This disparity falls to 28% (€1,401 against €1,955) when taking into account the survivor’s pensions received when a spouse dies. Between 2006 and 2021, men remained in the majority of top jobs. 80% of women reveal they have been less well-treated in work, public space, school, or family because of their sex. 37% of men are of the same view.
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