France pledges millions to stop deadly domestic violence

Under unprecedented public pressure, France’s government pledged Monday to seize firearms from abusive spouses and better train police as part of a broad national plan to reduce the number of women killed by their partners.

France has among the highest domestic violence rates in Europe, which President Emmanuel Macron has described as “France’s shame,” The Associated Press (AP) reported.

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe unveiled several dozen measures Monday to tackle the problem, including electronic bracelets for abusers and 1,000 new places in shelters for battered women.

Monday’s announcement marked the end of a two-month government project to correct what Philippe called “dysfunctions” in France’s response to domestic violence.

“The first success of this effort is to break this chain of silence,” Philippe said Monday.

Current or former partners have killed at least 138 women this year in France, according to activists who track the deaths. Many had reported abuse to police.

The government will allocate $396 million next year toward implementing the new measures, which Philippe said he hopes will serve as “an electroshock in our society.”

French activists have waged an unusual campaign this year to pressure the government to address domestic violence.
They have glued posters with the names of victims over French city buildings and marched through the streets at each new death.

Tens of thousands descended on Paris and other French cities over the weekend to demand stronger government action.