Tens of thousands of people took to the streets on Wednesday in Santiago and other Chilean cities, called forth by feminist groups, to demand women's rights, an end to sexist education and an end to the gender gap.
Banners called for the introduction of "non-sexist education" and the end of "sexual violence" following a number of cases of abuse against women and deep-rooted practices in universities and schools.
It´s the time to say ´enough´ – enough abuse, violence and discrimination," said Maria Astudillo, 26, a student at Catholic University, where students are occupying some faculties.
In the capital, in an exuberant - but largely peaceful - atmosphere, organizers said some 80,000 people, although the government said only 15,000, marched along the city's main street, Bernardo O'Higgins Boulevard for some four kilometers (2.5 miles) and about two hours.
Last month, two Chilean municipalities announced will begin issuing fines of up to hundreds of dollars to anyone guilty of street harassment of women.
The first protests began a month ago in Austral University where a professor was accused of sexual harassment. Since then, nearly 20 faculties and schools, including the prestigious law department at Chile University, have joined the movement.
