Thousands of people run in Caracas to protest violence against women

Thousands of people gathered this Sunday in Caracas to participate in the fifth edition of the protest race against violence against women, as a way of saying “enough”, in an initiative promoted by the delegation of the European Union (EU) in Venezuela.

The initiative, which includes a 10-kilometer run and a five-kilometer walk, provided a “party” through the streets of the Venezuelan capital, with the main objective of raising awareness among the population so that it does not allow “a single act of violence” against women, explained the head of mission of the EU delegation, Rafael Dochao Moreno, in statements to the Efe agency.

Describing the sporting event as an “authentic orange tide”, in an allusion to the number of participants, who were wearing ‘t-shirts’ of the same color, Rafael Dochao Moreno stated that it is necessary for society to unite in order to be able to face the scourge of violence against women.

“I ask that this very beautiful playful concept is also reflected in people’s ability to fight, that people do not allow a single act of violence against women”, he appealed.

The ten kilometers were covered in 36 minutes and 56 seconds by María Romero, winner of the women’s category, who described this initiative as “magnificent”.

The male winner was Whinton Palma, who completed the route in 30 minutes and 27 seconds, and who said it was an “honor” to participate in this race.

Part of the proceeds from the registrations, which cost US$20 each, was donated to the Niña Madre Civil Association, which works in education to prevent abuse against women, said the director of this institution, Marta Morante.

In the first 10 months of this year, Venezuela recorded 193 murders of women at the hands of men who were part of their lives, which is an average of one feminicide every 37 hours, according to the balance updated this Friday by the NGO Utopix.

On November 24, the attorney general of Venezuela, Tarek William Saab, reported that, from August 2017 to November of this year, 1,202 femicides were registered, some of them “frustrated”.