As demonstrations take place in 150 cities in France to protest, this Wednesday, March 8, against inequalities at work and in life between genders, the government has unveiled a new action plan, running until 2027. Tour horizon of the main measures and issues, while for the question was once again erected as “main cause of the five-year term” of Emmanuel Macron.
Increase support structures for victims of violence, better support for miscarriages… A hundred measures are planned in different areas. “Several hundred million euros” will be devoted to this “ambitious and cross-cutting” plan to combat gender inequalities, indicated the Matignon services during a press briefing.
“It is unacceptable, in our Republic, that certain paths are blocked and certain dreams inaccessible only because one is a woman […] It is unbearable, in our Republic, that people can still die under the blows of their spouses because they are women”, declared this Wednesday the Prime Minister, in the preamble to the presentation of the measures. Borne will be created in order to monitor its implementation and progress each year.
The plan is structured around 4 axes: the fight against violence, health, professional equality, and culture. Among the key measures is the doubling of the number of Women’s Houses, support structures for victims of violence, so that there is one per department. To discuss this project, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne will go this Thursday to the Maison des femmes de Plaisir (Yvelines).
“Specialized poles” in the courts
Several measures have already been announced by the Prime Minister, such as the fact that the government plans to set up “specialized poles” in the courts in order to better deal with domestic violence. A file relating to perpetrators and victims of violence will also be set up.
With regard to health, the government wishes to provide better support for women who experience a miscarriage, by eliminating the waiting period in the event of sick leave and by offering psychological support.
Measures are aimed at young people: as Elisabeth Borne also announced on Monday, female condoms will be reimbursed for those under 26, as will reusable periodic products (panties and menstrual cups). Other measures are intended for single mothers: they will be able to benefit, for example, from a temporary childcare system in the event of hospitalization.
Labeled schools
In order to promote professional equality, the government wants to decline the equality index already in force in companies since 2019 in the State civil service, starting this summer. It aims for more transparency on the salaries paid. Companies with more than 250 employees are required to publish their ratings.
The plan will also relax the conditions for benefiting from maternity or paternity leave, reducing the duration of affiliation to Health Insurance to six months instead of ten from July. The Prime Minister’s services also recall that since July 1, 2021, paternity leave has been extended to 28 days, including one compulsory week.
To create a “culture of equality” from an early age, the government also wants to reward schools “the most virtuous in terms of educational policy and school life” with a “gender equality” label. The executive wants all establishments to be labeled by the end of the five-year term.