This archive report was first published on 18 December 2019.
On December 18, 2019, the French Senate passed a bill with unanimous support, marking a significant step in the government's crackdown on domestic violence.
The legislation, which has already been fast-tracked through the lower house of parliament in October, will require offenders to wear GPS-enabled ankle bracelets either after being convicted or ahead of sentencing, or as part of protective action taken outside of any criminal complaint.
Justice Minister Nicole Belloubet stated that the measure 'will prevent an important number of femicides.' The ankle bracelets, equipped with GPS trackers, will send a signal to police if violent suspects approach their victims.
The move is part of a wider government response to a rise in killings of women by their male partners this year. Official figures show that more than 120 women died at the hands of current or former partners last year in France, a number which advocacy groups say has already been surpassed this year.
The launch of the first 1,000 bracelets will cost between five million euros ($5.5 million) and six million euros.
