French feminists use baguettes to raise awareness about domestic violence

A French feminist organization is using the favored French bread as a means to fight against domestic violence.

PARIS -- A French feminist organization is using the favored French bread as a means to fight against domestic violence. The "NousToutes" ("MeToo" in French) collective is leading an awareness campaign called "Baguettes against domestic violence," which has already reached 1,000 bakeries across France, according to the campaign’s founder. The bags the loaves come in feature information on hotlines to call, as well as educational messages to help identify domestic abuse. Every year, 225,000 women report being victims of physical or sexual violence in France, according to the French government. The coronavirus crisis also led to an increase in reports of domestic violence in Europe, according to a preliminary overview published by the European Institute for Gender Equality during the three national lockdowns.