**Thousands Rally in Paris Against Gender-Based Violence and Femicides**

In a powerful show of solidarity, thousands of protesters took to the streets of Paris and various other French cities on Saturday to voice their outrage against femicides and gender-based violence. The demonstrators, comprising both women and men, brandished purple placards decrying such violence and advocating for women’s reproductive rights.

The protest in Paris saw participants denouncing the worrying prospect of potential setbacks to women's rights following the election victory of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. The demonstrators were particularly moved by the case of Gisèle Pélicot, whose grueling ordeal involving her ex-husband and numerous other men facing prosecution for raping her while she was drugged and unconscious has heightened public awareness and anger over sexual violence in France.

"Unfortunately, anybody can be a perpetrator of violence. It can be our brothers. It can be our fathers. It can be our colleagues. It can be our bosses. I think that's the big shock for people," remarked Maelle Noir, a representative of the feminist collective "Nous Toutes," which means "All of us" in English.

The rallying cry was clear: organizers called for stronger government funding to combat sexual and sexist violence and to advance gender equality. The determined voices in Paris and beyond are demanding action and change, urging leaders to prioritize the fight against gender-based violence.