Hundreds of thousands of women protest against violence

After the brutal gang-rape and killing of a teenage girl in Argentina, civil organizations, including Ni Una Menos, called for a national strike today to speak out about gender violence.

Organizers of the “women’s strike” have called for every woman to stop their activities for one hour between 1:00-2:00 pm “wherever you are, stop your activities for one hour to demand ‘no more gender violence'” said the organizations.

The protest, marked with the Twitter hashtag #MiércolesNegro (Black Wednesday), or #NiUnaMenos (Not One Less, meaning not one more woman lost to male violence) was prompted by the abduction of Lucía Pérez, a schoolgirl who was drugged, raped and tortured earlier this month.

Mexico announced its participation in the protest "We will be out on the streets, out of our workplaces to make to ourselves visible," said a spokeswoman for Ni Una Menos.

The president of Chile, Michelle Bachelet, joined the #NiUnaMenos protest against femicide and violence against women.

"For Florencia Aguirre from Coyhaique. For Lucía Pérez from Mar del Plata. For all women, I say with strength: Not One Less," wrote the Chilean President on her Twitter account.