Youngsters take part in a mini marathon to raise awareness about violence against women at XIMB Square in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Nov. 25: Students armed with placards and shouting slogans against domestic abuse hit the streets to mark the International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women today.

Expressing solidarity towards all those women and girls silenced by domestic and intimate partner violence, over 400 youngsters walked in unison from Ekamra Haat to Master Canteen Square.

Anusuya Behera, a student of BJB College, said walks that raise awareness about issues such as intimate partner violence are necessary as people rarely talk about them.

“When the young brigade comes together to highlight such issues it will definitely gain visibility and help fight the stigma surrounding such type of violence,” said Behera.

Satyajit Patnaik, a student of the same college, said effective prevention strategies that address the root causes of gender inequality was required.

“We need to provide better services such as shelters, legal advice, counselling, police protection and most importantly, access to justice for the victims of domestic violence,” said the young student.

A number of issues relating to domestic violence were discussed and the need for collective action by the youth to fight hostility against women was also highlighted at a public meeting organised after the walk

Academics and social activists shared their views against domestic violence as well.

Organised by Oxfam India, the walk marked the beginning of a 16-day campaign, Ame Samartha, which aims at fighting gender violence in the state.

A number of panel discussions with social activists, youth conventions and candlelight marches have been scheduled as a part of the campaign.

The campaign will culminate on November 10, which is also World Human Rights Day, when a memorandum will be submitted to the governor demanding effective implementation of Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005.

In a similar event, a mini-marathon was organised by National Alliance of Women, Odisha Chapter, in the city.

Around 200 college students took part in the run that began from Xavier Square and concluded at Kalinga Stadium.

“It is very important that women know how to identify different kinds of abuses and are aware about laws to fight against them. Apart from policy makers, underprivileged women, especially domestic helps, who are quite vulnerable to such violence, should be made aware by people like us,” said Anupriya Mohanty, a student of RD Women’s College.