THOUSANDS of Ethiopian women took to the streets of the capital Addis Ababa on Saturday to denounce daily acts of violence committed against them. The event was organised by the Ethiopian Women Lawyers’ Association (EWLA), along with 20 other governmental and non-governmental organisations. “It’s not a problem that is unique to Ethiopian women, but it is incumbent upon each Ethiopian female to say no to violence against women,” said event coordinator Konjit Fekade. The women marched to both the parliament and the offices of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to deliver their list of demands, which included the rejection of sexual harassment, kidnapping and forced marriages. They also asked the government to fight against the social stigma attached to rape victims, especially those who contract the AIDS virus from their attackers. Participants decried the relatively mild prison sentences for rapists, who usually serve less than 10 years in jail. – AFP