CAP International at the World March of Women: prostitution & armed conflicts

On June 15, 2025, CAP International was present at the 6th World March of Women held in Marseille, France.

An international feminist event in Marseille

The World March of Women 2025 was held in Marseille from 13 to 15 June. This European stage brought together activists, associations, and experts around a common goal: to denounce violence against women and defend equality.

CAP International participated in the round table "Peace and demilitarization / fight against violence against women". It was an opportunity to recall that prostitution is a patriarchal and systemic violence, used as a weapon of war.

Prostitution: specific violence in times of war

The experience of our grassroots associations confirms that prostitution targets the most vulnerable women:

• 85% of the peoples in prostitution in France are women,
• 100% of buyers of sexual acts are men,
• In Europe, 70% of people in prostitution are migrant women.

On the occasion of the round table, CAP International recalled:

• That women impacted by armed conflicts, migrants, internally displaced persons, refugees are vulnerable to prostitution due to socio-economic constraint, as part of the path to Exile or in refugee camps
• Whereas prostitution is a form of violence specific to women and girls
• That the prostitution system is used as a tool of domination and humiliation in times of armed conflict.

The abolitionist model: protection and justice

For CAP International, the only sustainable solution is the abolitionist model. Already adopted by France and eight other countries, it is based on 5 pillars:

• Decriminalisation of prostituted persons,
• Exit pathway with financial support, housing, and training,
• Prohibition of the purchase of sexual acts,
• Prohibition of pimping
• National prevention campaigns.

The results are clear:

• In Sweden, the demand for prostitution has fallen by 50% in 10 years.
• In France, more than 2,000 women have left prostitution permanently thanks to state-supported pathways.

A feminist, anti-racist and social justice struggle

At the 2025 World March of Women, CAP International recalled that abolition is a universal feminist struggle for dignity, equality, and freedom. That it is a question of fighting against a patriarchal, racist, and colonial system. 

• advocacy event