Women standing in a crowd, linking arms with red handprints across their mouths signifying their opposition to violence against women

Global protests denounce violence against women

People around the world have taken to the streets to demand an end to violence against women, reports the BBC in an extraordimary photo essay for the International Day of the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

In an incredible show of strength and unity, particularly led by women of colour in developing countries, thousands of women and supporters vocalised their opposition to femicide, with almost 90,000 women and girls being murdered around the world in 2017 alone, according to the UN.