“Silent eyewitnesses” said “No to Violence”
With white masks and costumes, women today lined up in central Yerevan to spell the phrase "No to Violence". Their images symbolize women who are subject to violence from time to time, but don't raise their voices about it. This was one of the actions raising awareness about that.
"If a women that has been subject to violence keeps silent, it means that she is subject to brutal violence from time to time. Armenian women call us when they are in a situation that they can't get out of. Sometimes women call us in such a nervous state that they can't describe the situation," psychologist at the Women's Rights Center Marine Martirosyan told "A1+" and assured that the best way of fighting against violence is to talk about it.
The action participants presented stories of women who have been subject to brutality in families through the images of phantoms called "silent eyewitnesses".
Even though experts say women have recently started talking about the violations of their rights, they still continue to keep silent about sexual abuse.
Four to five women call the Women's Rights Center's hotline every day. According to the Center's experts, women are subject to violence regardless of age, nationality or social status.
The 16-day action against gender violence in Yerevan will end on December 10.
