Workplace sexual violence and gender equality initiatives in France

In Nantes, France, the Association européenne contre les Violences faites aux Femmes au Travail (AVFT) and the Maison des Femmes – Simone de Beauvoir will host a free information workshop on June 25, 2026. The session is designed for individuals who are victims or believe they have been victims of sexist or sexual violence at work. The workshop aims to help participants legally qualify the violence experienced, identify available tools and legal recourse, and understand the obligations of employers.

Separately, the trade union Force Ouvrière (FO) has highlighted the ongoing struggle for gender equality and the prevention of sexual harassment in the workplace. FO notes that while legal frameworks exist, such as the 2012 law integrated into the penal and labor codes, further improvements are needed. The union points to advancements like the creation of staff representatives against violence and wage equality obligations, but emphasizes that one-third of the active population reports experiencing discrimination in the last five years, with women, youth, immigrants, and people with disabilities being the primary victims.