Feminists march in Mexico City over violence against women

Hundreds of feminist protesters marched through Mexico City to mark the United Nations' International Day of Elimination of Violence against Women. During the march, clashes between demonstrators and police also broke out.

Mexico City: Scores of feminist protesters marched through Mexico City on Wednesday, marking the United Nations' International Day of Elimination of Violence against Women.

Despite several meetings between organizers and local authorities to ensure smooth protests, clashes between demonstrators and police broke out.

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Police blocked attempts by protesters to damage the city's cathedral and reach the National Palace.

The Mexican government insisted on Wednesday it had put in place a host of various programs against gender-based violence since President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador came to power in December 2018.

Yet as violent incidents persist in Mexico, so does indignation among feminists, who were determined to return to the streets this year.

Since 2019, the intensity of the protests has grown in the country.

The March 8 International Women's Day protest broke all records, with hundreds of thousands of women walking through the capital.

"Demonstrations need to be respected, we need to respect the way of the protest, how all women fight," said local congresswoman Alessandra Rojo de la Vega.

According to official figures, 3,825 women met violent deaths in 2019 in Mexico, an average of more than 10 per day and a rise of 7% over the previous year.

AP

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