Thousands protest violence against women in Peru

By Senabri Silvestre
SANTO DOMINGO, Dom. Rep. (AA) – Thousands of demonstrators marched Saturday to protest violence against women in Peru, according to authorities.
The mass demonstration was attened by Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski and convened by civilian groups to call attention to the issue and demand stiffer penalties for attackers in a country where 95 women in 2015 were killed by violence.
"Not one less" was the slogan used by demonstrators in defense of women from the Champ de Mars of Jesus Maria district in Lima to some of the main streets of the historic center country´s capital.
"The problem of violence is that silence absorbs shock and is not easy to denounce", Kuczynski said via Twitter. In an address at the march he promised to strengthen the Ministry of Women and expressed support for victims. "We want justice," he added.
The march was organized after media reports of attackers receiving lenient court decisions and was also attended by victims and authorities, including the interior and justice ministers.
In 2016, more than 50 women have been killed by their partners or ex-partners, according to statistic from the women and vulnerable populations ministry.