100,000 March in Paris for Sexual Violence Law as Lyhanna Killing Fuels National Outrage
Updated
Updated · FRANCE 24 English · Jul 5
100,000 March in Paris for Sexual Violence Law as Lyhanna Killing Fuels National Outrage
3 articles · Updated · FRANCE 24 English · Jul 5
Summary
About 100,000 people marched in Paris on Saturday, part of demonstrations in roughly 110 French cities demanding a comprehensive law against sexual violence after 11-year-old Lyhanna’s rape and murder.
The protests were driven by anger that the 41-year-old suspect — a father of one of Lyhanna’s school friends — had twice previously faced child rape accusations that were dropped or stalled.
Organisers from a coalition of 180 associations said piecemeal measures are not enough, while activists cited a system in which 94% of rape complaints are dismissed without further action.
The case has already triggered calls for Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin to resign; he apologized for a “huge failure,” and President Emmanuel Macron warned the investigative lapses could damage trust in state institutions.