Abusers of women online are 'getting away with it' in France

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An official body in charge of overseeing sexual equality in France has criticised the way that many people are harassing women online “with impunity”. This is despite the many laws that are available to combat such harassment. The Haut Conseil à l’Égalité entre les Femmes et les Hommes (HCE) points to a trial it carried out in 2017 in which less than 8% of sexist content flagged to Twitter, Facebook and YouTube was taken down. Louise Fessard reports.

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A report by France's official sexual equality body the Haut Conseil à l’Égalité entre les Femmes et les Hommes (HCE) has attacked the level of online violence aimed at women in France. Its president, Danielle Bousquet, points out that while social networks have provided a “great place for women to mobilise” after the Harvey Weinstein affair, women are also the object of “massive violence” there, in particular from organised campaigns of harassment. And often the perpetrators get away with it, the equality watchdog boss says.

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