Hundreds of protesters on Saturday gathered in Paris to decry violence against women amid rising femicide in the country, reports Deutsche Welle.
"It's a massacre," said French actress Julie Gayet, partner of former president François Hollande.
Data collected by Feminicides par compagnons ou ex, (Femicide by partner or ex) a women's advocacy group, showed that 74 women have been killed so far this year by their husband or partner, putting it on track to exceed last year's figure.
The French Interior Ministry has said that at least 130 women were killed in 2017 by their husband or partner, up from 123 the previous year.
"We need to raise awareness on what's happening today, which means that despite society's evaluation, there's a step backward, and even more women are dying today," said Gayet.
French gender equality minister Marlène Schiappa backed the protests, saying more needed to be done to end violence against women.