ISTANBUL, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- More than 2,000 women on Saturday staged protests in central Istanbul to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
The protesters carried banners denouncing domestic violence and homicide against women on the iconic Istiklal Avenue, and played drums and chanted slogans: "Women are stronger together," "We want an entire life not small pieces."
"Today it is our day and we are going to raise our voices," said 55-year-old housewife Ruya Deniz. "We are here to say 'no' to male atrocity."
According to womenhomicide.com data, 260 women were murdered by their male partners, husbands or family members last year across Turkey.
The Ministry of Family and Social Policies reported that over 80 percent of women in the country have encountered some kind of physical or psychological violence from a family member, while one out of 15 girls has been sexually harassed at least once in her lifetime.
"I am one of the 15 girls," "You are not alone," read some banners holding by the crowds.
In addition, women have been sharing their experiences on social media throughout the day about violence and sexual harassment against them under the theme of "Say no to violence against women."
