[2] Born of Algerian immigrant parents, Sihem Habchi followed a course of study in secondary school and university that primarily involved linguistics and multimedia.
For five weeks, through 23 cities, and under the deliberately provocative slogan “Neither Whores nor Submissives,” five women and two men called for public attention and action regarding the condition of girls in poor neighbourhoods.
The natural and frank portraits of young “black, white, and North African” women paid homage to Marianne, the rebellious French heroine devoted to equality and fraternity.
Sihem Habchi offered her talents to the creation of the Guide to Respect, sold today to 100,000 copies throughout France (a European version is currently under way), as the march allowed for the collection of thousands of stories of girls and boys in pain.
On International Women’s Day, 8 March 2005, NPNS collaborated with a number of grassroots associations and personalities to launch a call “For a new feminism” which emphasized the necessity to promote equality, secularism (la laicité) and diversity to ensure the emancipation of all individuals.
Since 2007, Sihem Habchi has not ceased to defend women victims of obscurantism throughout the world: she has met with Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Naeema Moghul, Nawal Saadawi, Taslima Nasrin, and many others.
On 24 November 2008, Habchi addressed a letter to Nicolas Sarkozy, current French president, to demand he commit to the national cause to end violence against women.