Belgian landmarks turn orange against violence to women

About 20 landmarks across Belgium were lit up in orange on Saturday on the occasion of the UN's International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Brussels city hall, Antwerp's Sportpaleis and Ostend casino were among the buildings participating in the "Orange the World" initiative to raise awareness of physical, psychological and sexual violence. This was the first year that Belgium has taken part in the global event.

Some 2,000 people joined a demonstration in Brussels from the North station to the New Grain Market, organised by Mirabal Belgium with the support of 80 different women's rights organisations. Organisers said: "We must put an end to all violence against women. It is now up to the political world to take responsibility and to turn words into action. No change is possible without concrete political measures."

Griet De Prycker, from the Ypres branch of Soroptimist International, the NGO behind the Orange the World concept, said: "We believe that there is still a lot of work to be done in the fight against violence against women around the world."

According to Amnesty International, which took part in the Brussels march, there remain many obstacles in the way for victims of violence. Police statistics do not include a complainant's gender, making it impossible to quantify rape cases against women.

The human rights charity says that, as a result, Belgium is not complying with the recommendations of the Council of Europe's Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Violence against Women and Domestic Violence.