Protesters urge French government to endorse EU rape law proposal

Gagged activists hold a placard as persons wearing a mask of French President Emmanuel Macron stand behind (Christophe Ena/AP/PA)

Activists wearing masks depicting President Emmanuel Macron have called on the French government to change its position and endorse a law proposed by the European Union that would define rape as sex without consent in the bloc’s 27 countries.

The demonstrators gathered in Paris on the eve of International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women to apply pressure on the French head of state.