AKIPRESS.COM - Tens of thousands of demonstrators have marched through the streets of Madrid and dozens of other Spanish towns and cities to oppose violence against women, Guardian reports.

Protesters chanted slogans and carried signs reading “For those who aren’t with us” and “Justice” as they marked the UN’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

In Madrid, tens of thousands joined a feminist group calling for a massive protest and shouted “No more victims, we want freedom!” as they marched through the centre of the capital.

The Madrid demonstration ended with a reading of the names of the 44 women killed by their partners or former partners over the past 12 months.

Since 2003, when Spain started keeping records, 999 people have died as a result of violence against women: 972 women and 27 children.

According to the general council of the judiciary, Spanish courts received more than 166,000 gender violence complaints in 2017 – up 16% on the previous year.