Yahoo – AFP,
November 25, 2017
Paris (AFP) - French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday proposed a raft of measures to combat "horrific and shameful" violence against women, as he pledged to make gender equality a major theme of his administration.
French Junior Minister for Gender Equality Marlene Schiappa (L) applauds President Emmanuel Macron after his speech on combating violence against women. (AFP Photo/LUDOVIC MARIN) |
Paris (AFP) - French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday proposed a raft of measures to combat "horrific and shameful" violence against women, as he pledged to make gender equality a major theme of his administration.
"Our
entire society is sick with sexism," Macron said in a speech in Paris to
mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
The
39-year-old leader began with a minute of silence to remember the 123 women
killed in 2016 in France by their partner or ex-partner.
"France
must no longer be one of those countries where women are afraid," he said.
Public
awareness of sexual assault and harassment has been heightened following the
allegations levelled by women against Hollywood movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.
Weeks
later, the #metoo hashtag burst into the social media spotlight in mid-October
and snowballed into an online movement as women across the world reveal their
own similar experiences.
Macron
outlined three priorities over the five year term of his presidency from
fostering gender equality to giving better assistance to victims of sexual
abuse and enforcing harsh measures against aggressors.
Nearly
225,000 women were victims of physical or sexual violence by their partner in
France last year, according to official figures. But fewer than one in five of
them have filed a complaint with authorities.
Macron
proposed new measures against this scourge including making a sexual insult an
offence in order to combat harassment in the street.
He also
called for making 15 the minimum age of consent for sex -- there is currently
no such law in France.
To make it
easier for women to file a complaint, they will be able to go online and speak
directly with police 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
An
anti-sexism module will be made available to schools. First lady Brigitte
Macron will be personally involved with an effort to raise awareness of
harassment in schools.
To help
fight against inequality in the workplace, Macron also said he would like to
look into the matter of hiring discrimination against women.
The French
president said he wants "to fight for the non-negotiable equality of both
sexes" making it a "major cause" during his term in office.
France's
Equality Minister Marlene Schiappa said the world was at a turning point.
"People
can no longer ignore the extent of the violence women are subjected to. They
have spoken up and we are responding," Schiappa said.
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