Prime Minister urged to "protect" funding for the fight against violence against women

A report published last week by the Senate Finance Committee highlighted the "derisory" amounts allocated to this social issue.

They call on the Prime Minister not to "sacrifice women on the altar of austerity." Several feminist associations and organizations urged François Bayrou on Sunday, July 6, to "protect" funding for associations that support women and children who are victims of violence. "It is urgent that the 2026 finance bill devote the necessary resources to this social issue," warn the Women's Foundation, the Women's Solidarity Federation, Family Planning, Femmes Solidaires, and the National Federation of Information Centers on Women's and Family Rights in an open letter .

"Closing a hotline means one less way out for survivors. Reducing the scope of a helpline means condemning women to remain under the influence of their abusers. Firing a lawyer means depriving a victim of the possibility of obtaining justice," the signatories of the appeal state. "Reducing the resources of associations means accepting that children grow up in fear and violence rather than in an equal society," they continue.

In 2017, Emmanuel Macron declared equality between women and men "a major cause of the five-year term" , with the "first pillar" being the fight "for the complete elimination of violence against women" . The head of state reiterated this commitment in 2022, shortly before his re-election. Between 2020 and 2024, the funding for the gender equality program almost tripled, and currently stands at just over 100 million euros.

But feminist groups consider this increase to be deceptive and point to a budget that remains insufficient to meet the challenges. A report published last week by the Senate Finance Committee highlighted the "derisory" amounts allocated to the fight against violence against women, lamenting that this "great national cause" remains "poorly funded" and calling on the executive to increase resources.