SERBIA/BELGIUM: Protesters in Belgrade and Brussels join a world-wide dancing campaign to end violence against women

Record ID: 321828

  • Title: SERBIA/BELGIUM: Protesters in Belgrade and Brussels join a world-wide dancing campaign to end violence against women
  • Date: 14th February 2013
  • Summary: PEOPLE HOLDING HAND UP VARIOUS OF FAMILY PHOTO BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (FEBRUARY 14, 2013) (REUTERS) CROWD DANCING TOGETHER WOMAN SINGING THE 'ONE BILLION RISING' SONG RISING UP ON STAGE HUNGARIAN MEMBER OF EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, ZITA GURMAI, DANCING IN CROWD CROWD DANCING AND CHANTING IN UNISON
  • Embargoed: 1st March 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Belgium, Serbia
  • City:
  • Country: Belgium Serbia
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA9FY8RIT5S81GAPXZLD3F6GKY9
  • Story Text: Ten cities in Serbia including the capital Belgrade took part in the world-wide action "One Billion Rising" to end violence against women on Thursday (February 14).
    In Belgrade around hundred people danced in front of the main railway station and prominent actresses and sportswomen talked about violence against women in Serbian and how many women have been victims.
    One of theorganisers of the protest dance said it was important to show to the women that it is safe to speak out against violence within the family.

    "One of the biggest problem (in Serbia) is that society is still traditional, so many think that family violence should not be reported , even teenage violence its not reported as much as it should be," said Marina Ugrinic, one of the organisers.
    According to police and Organisation who are dealing with violence against women, every third woman in Serbia a victim of violence in family. Last year 23 women were killed Demonstrators in Brussels crowded in Place de la Monnaie, in the heart of the Belgian capital, in solidarity with the world movement and to support victims of rape and violence.
    Members of the European Parliament joined in including Zita Gurmai, a Hungarian MEP who said the parliament wanted to show its solidarity with women and the parliament's commitment to protect women throughout the 27-nation bloc.

    "We really wanted to show a type of solidarity for women who suffer everyday," Gurmai said.
    Gurmai said the violence is not just a woman's issue, but is instead an issue for everyone and that the support of the parliamentary leaders to further the fight against violence for everyone is much needed.
    In September of 2012, the parliament voted to support the European Commission's proposal to push for a directive setting out minimum rights for victims of either gender wherever they are in the EU.
    Valentine's day was chosen as the date for the global protest as a rejection of what organizers refer to as romanticized femininity and love.
    Men and women involved in the protest donned red scarves to represent the blood shed by women around the world.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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