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NGOs and relatives of women murdered by their partners rallied in Paris on Saturday to call on the government to take more decisive action de protect women from femicides, Euronews reports.

At least 74 French women have been killed by their other-half or ex-partners so far this year, more than at the same time last year, according to the "Femicides par compagnons ou ex" (Femicides by partners or exes) NGO.

"Last year, we counted 120 femicides," a representative for the NGO — who preferred to remain anonymous — told Euronews.

"There is no lull period: a woman is killed approximately every two days," she added.

This week alone, the collective counted four murders.

The country's High Council for Equality (HCE), said in a statement on July 1 that is was "alarmed" by the number of femicides, adding: "The HCE volunteers to identify the pathways and possible failures that have led to the murder of 70 women since the beginning of the year."

"It is concerning that the mechanisms for the protection of women victims of domestic violence and their children (...) are applied so sparingly," it also stressed.

NGOs, including "Femicides par compagnons ou ex", want protection orders to be more widespread.

"There should be an investigation as soon as there is any suspicion of domestic violence, like they do for a burglary," the collective told Euronews. They highlighted that among those killed this year, many had already gone to the police over domestic violence issues but that their concerns had not been taken seriously.

They also want the French authorities to assist violent men by "organising treatment and rehabilitating them" but also to distance them from their partners and children instead of having the women and their children move into "shelters that are often full and struggling with the demand."