New Year’s Day killings spark call for action to tackle violence against women in France

Government accused of remaining scandalously' silent on grim start to the year for women and girls

Feminist campaigners in France are calling for tougher government action to combat violence against women and girls after three women were allegedly killed by their current or former partner on the first day of 2022.

The body of a 28-year-old military recruit who had been stabbed to death was found near Saumur in western France on Saturday. The local prosecutor, Alexandra Verron, said a 21-year-old man, also a soldier, had been arrested and investigators were looking into a possible femicide - the killing of a woman by her partner or ex-partner.