THIRTY thousand women marched against sexual assault and harassment in Paris yesterday in the largest of multiple European demonstrations.

Protesters clad in purple chanted “we’re sick of rape,” “end impunity for aggressors” and “a woman is never responsible for the violence she suffers.”

While President Emmanuel Macron tweeted support for the march, organisers said his government was not providing resources to battle domestic violence and its attacks on pensions, child and housing benefit were increasing poverty, which is linked to rising domestic violence.

Despite a simultaneous drive to cut public-sector jobs — described as a “bloodbath” by France Unbowed leader Jean-Luc Melenchon — the EU warned Paris last year that its spending cuts were not deep enough. European Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis said that the country’s “excessive deficit” should be its politicians’ priority.

A promised Ministry for Gender Equality has been shelved, while the cabinet member responsible for equality, Marlene Schiappa, has been attacked for failing to classify sex with minors as rape in the government’s Bill on sexual violence.

The rally was organised by the #NousToutes movement, inspired by the #MeToo campaign against sexual harassment that snowballed in the United States. It took place on the eve of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe announced a new website for reporting domestic violence, boasting that from its launch tomorrow “a few clicks can help everyone make a new start.”

But rally organiser Caroline De Haas warned that, “if the money is not forthcoming, public policy will not follow.”