Strike dates announced

A communiqué signed by the LDH (Ligue des droits de l'Homme) and numerous other organizations has called for a feminist strike on Wednesday, November 25, and Saturday, November 28, 2026, in response to ongoing violence against women and children in France.

Historical context provided

The statement highlights the long-standing mobilization of organizations against sexist and sexual violence and references the 2004 Spanish framework law aimed at eradicating such violence. It notes that for several months, groups have been involved in large-scale mobilizations across the country demanding a comprehensive law and adequate funding.

Tragic incident cited

The murder of young Lyhanna has once again exposed systemic violence and societal failures in addressing these issues.

Statistics on child abuse

According to the communiqué, 160,000 children in France are victims of incest and sexual violence annually, with 3% of perpetrators being convicted and 1% in cases of incest. Most of these acts occur within families and are committed by men.

Exploitation and trafficking

At least 20,000 children are victims of prostitution and sexual exploitation, with 80% coming from households receiving social assistance, which often lack sufficient resources and personnel.

Rape and harassment data

Approximately 230,000 women and girls are victims of rape or attempted rape, with nearly half being minors at the time of the incident. Violence occurs in various settings, including families, social circles, public spaces, transportation, educational and sports facilities, healthcare institutions, activist spaces, and workplaces.

Workplace and healthcare issues

In the workplace, more than 8,000 rapes or attempted rapes occur annually, with a third of women experiencing sexual harassment. In healthcare settings, 45.1% of patients report experiencing obstetric or gynecological violence.

Vulnerable groups identified

Women with disabilities are particularly vulnerable, with one in five having experienced rape. Fifty percent of lesbians and 75% of bisexual women have faced violence in public spaces, and 85% of transgender individuals have experienced transphobia.

Social and economic factors

Single mothers raising children alone face increased vulnerability to institutional, economic, and domestic violence. Migrant women in precarious situations are 75% likely to have experienced violence during their journey or on French territory, with many victims of human trafficking networks. All homeless women have experienced rape.

Femicide statistics

In France, more than one femicide occurs every three days, often committed by a current or former partner. Twenty-one percent of these victims were over 70 years old and were not included in domestic violence surveys. Nearly 50% of femicide victims had previously reported violence.

Suicide and psychological violence

Additionally, over 900 women are driven to suicide annually due to psychological violence or harassment by their partners or ex-partners.

Global perspective

Globally, the communiqué emphasizes that violence against women and children is a result of patriarchal systems, the culture of rape, and the suppression of women's and children's voices. It calls for international solidarity on November 25, a day marked by the increasing number of wars and armed conflicts.

Conflict zone issues

Women and children in conflict zones face war rapes, sexual violence, forced marriages, human trafficking, torture, mutilation, excision, infibulation, starvation, displacement, and silencing. Their basic rights are violated.

Critique of far-right policies

The communiqué criticizes far-right governments as major threats to the rights of women, children, and LGBTQIA+ individuals, as well as feminist and child advocacy organizations and human rights defenders. It notes that far-right regimes suppress feminist and LGBTQI activists, seek to forcibly de-transition transgender individuals, and imprison women who have had abortions or helped others to do so.

Social mobilization and repression

The communiqué highlights the current context of strong social mobilization and police violence, particularly in response to student protests. The government's repressive response has reached a level of violence aimed at silencing and intimidating those who protest against institutional violence.

Repressive measures against students

Repressive measures against students have existed prior to the current mobilizations, and the communiqué denounces the harsh repression of the student movement and the sexual and gender-based violence faced by adolescents and women from law enforcement during these protests.

Legal progress and challenges

The feminist and trade union organizations involved in the strike demand a comprehensive law against violence against women and children, along with adequate funding to implement it. This law, which includes significant advancements in violence prevention and support for victims, was passed in the National Assembly on October 13, 2026, in the first reading.

Political opposition

However, the communiqué warns of significant setbacks caused by the National Rally and Ensemble for the Republic, which limit the ability of undocumented women victims of violence to report crimes without risking an OQTF (order to leave the territory) and prevent asylum seekers who have filed complaints from working.

Additional demands

The communiqué also demands the end of genital mutilations on intersex children still permitted in France, increased funding for feminist associations, especially those supporting victims and promoting equality, and the hiring of more public sector staff in healthcare, justice, protection, social assistance, education, and labor inspection.

Freedom of expression and expulsions

It calls for the protection of the freedoms of associations increasingly threatened in their freedom of expression and the immediate halt to the expulsion of Afghan women by the French government, emphasizing the application of the EU Court of Justice's "Afghan Women" ruling from October 4, 2024, which grants them refugee status systematically across EU countries.

Call to action

The communiqué urges demonstrations on November 25 and November 28, 2026, to show solidarity and demand change.