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Paris: FEMEN Activists Protest Topless Outside the Louvre, Here's Why

Hundreds of FEMEN activists staged a topless protest outside the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

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Ishika Thanvi
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Image: Photo: Instagram/femen_official

On November 25, hundreds of FEMEN activists staged a topless protest outside the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. This act of resistance against gender-based violence is slowly becoming a global movement.

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A Protest of Solidarity and Defiance

Under the cry “Femme, Vie, Liberté” (Women, Life, Freedom), more than 100 topless activists from FEMEN gathered to draw attention to violence against women. Slogans such as “Stop War on Women” and “Women, Life, Freedom” were painted across their bodies in French, English, and Kurdish. The FEMEN Instagram page described the event as a "living symbol of global feminist defiance," standing in solidarity with women facing oppression in countries like Afghanistan, Iran, Sudan, Ukraine, Palestine and more.

The protest transformed the Louvre’s forecourt, a symbol of elitist cultural power, into a stage for bold, feminist and radical resistance. A statement from FEMEN read:

"Our bodies — marked with slogans and messages of resistance — are our manifesto of defiance. Removing the veil is not merely symbolic; it is a conscious act of reclaiming — a declaration to the world that we refuse to be silenced."

Music as a Medium of Protest

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Led by singer Lio, the activists performed “L’Hymne des Femmes” (The Women's Anthem), wearing black veils to symbolise mourning and erasure. As a gesture of solidarity, they also sang “The Song of Equality” in Farsi, led by artist Victoria Gugenheim, to honour the Iranian women resisting oppression as part of the #WomanLifeFreedom movement.

Roots of FEMEN 

Founded in Ukraine in 2008, FEMEN is an international feminist movement known for its bold, topless protests. Their actions are characterized by powerful symbolism, using their bodies as canvases to convey anti-patriarchal messages.

The FEMEN website emphasises the political significance of their approach:

“FEMEN’s naked attacks are a raw nerve of the historic woman-system conflict, its most visual and appropriate illustration. The activist’s naked body is the undisguised hatred towards the patriarchal order and a new aesthetic of women’s revolution.”

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FEMEN’s French chapter, established in 2012 by activist Inna Shevchenko, has been at the forefront of feminist activism, targeting issues such as sexual violence, political oppression, and religious extremism.

Spark of Outrage: The Gisele Pelicot Case

The protest coincided with heightened outrage over the case of Dominique Pelicot, who drugged and raped his ex-wife along with a group of men over a decade. The abuse involved at least 70 men and prompted calls for stricter legal actions. Prosecutors sought a 20-year prison sentence for Dominique Pelicot.

FEMEN’s History of Resistance

Over the years, FEMEN has carried out numerous topless protests to spotlight issues of gender inequality and injustice. Highlights include:

  • 2012: Protesting against rape at the Louvre, where activists stood topless in front of the Venus de Milo statue, symbolising women’s vulnerability.
  • 2014: Demonstrating outside the Ukrainian embassy to condemn political oppression.
  • 2015: Disrupting a Muslim conference to challenge the marginalization of women in Islam.
  • 2018: Breaking security barriers during Donald Trump’s visit to Paris to protest against his policies.
  • 2020: Organising a protest at the Musée d'Orsay to support women facing sexual discrimination.
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The Intersection of Art and Activism

FEMEN’s choice of iconic cultural venues like the Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay for their protests is to leverage high-visibility spaces to amplify their message, and most importantly to challenge elitist culture. By using their bodies as a canvas and medium of protest, they challenge the utter audacity of a patriarchal world, of gender apartheid, of political oppression, of misogyny, and so much more.

A Movement for Change

FEMEN’s topless protests are more than acts of defiance; they are calls to action. Their use of imagery and powerful messaging seeks to awaken global consciousness about the injustices faced by women.

In the words of FEMEN:

“We stand in solidarity with oppressed and violated girls and women... too many places!! We will not stop fighting for our freedom and that of our sisters.”

This protest at the Louvre serves as a reminder of the resilience of women worldwide, fighting not just for liberation and equality, but also for their mere survival.

protest' radical feminism Resistance Louvre museum women face of resistance
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