The 6th solidarity procession against violence gathered approximately 150 participants, as reported by LETA.
This year Marta centre organised the solidarity procession to oppose violence against women and domestic violence.
Participants of the procession had posters in their hands with various slogans written on them, including “Not to blame”, “Real men respect women’s rights”, “If he hits, he doesn’t love”, “To ignore is to support violence”. Both men and women were part of this procession.
Participants of the procession were addressed by Marta centre representative Beata Jonīte, Sievietei paveicās association co-founder Marta Krauniņa, Latvian State Police Zemgale Region Office Tukums Police Department chief Janeks Bahs, and film director Emīlija Karetņikova.
The procession also outlined the severity of “grooming” as a form of sexual and emotional violence, as well as the need for an “effective system”
to help bring those responsible for it to justice.
After news was reported last year about Latvian camp organisers, adult men harassing and involving in relationships camp participants, teenage girls and young girls had turned to Marta centre and other organisations for assistance to deal with this form of violence or “grooming”.
After the speech, participants of the procession went from Freedom Monument on Kaļķu Street, went past the Saeima, and finished at Jēkaba Square.
During the procession participants shouted various slogans, such as “Women’s rights are human rights”, “If he hits, he doesn’t love”, “My life, my choice”, “We don’t want flowers, we want safety”.
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