Chilean Women March to Support Victims of Gender Violence

Under the motto “Valentina We believe you,” the Chilean collective #NiUnaMenos or NotOneLess has been marching to support victims of gender violence in Santiago de Chile.

Thursday's rally follows a formal complaint filed at the weekend by Valentina Henriquez.

Henriquez alleges she was physically and psychologically abused by her ex-partner, a Chilean singer called Camilo Castaldi, aka Tea Time, the MC of the popular band Los Tetas.

On Sunday, she posted photos allegedly showing her injuries on Facebook.

She accused Castaldi of repeated violence during their relationship.

Castaldi has denied the allegations and says Henriquez injured herself in a bid to seek revenge.

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Thursday's protest hopes to raise awareness in Chilean society about victims of gender violence and the support they need as well as the rising number of femicides in the country.

“Many women are victims of violence all along their lives and there isn't any other evidence than their own testimony,” said Ximena Riffo, spokesperson for #NiUnaMenos. “And no law (protects us against) the daily violence we endure,” she told Ahora Noticias.

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Chilean artists have also been coming forward to make their voices heard. They include the singer Alex Anwandter who is urging his followers to “support the victims, instead of questioning the veracity of their abuses.”

The demonstrators are also protesting against a ruling which annulled Mauricio Ortega's sentence for the failed femicide of Nabila Rifo.

In May, Rifo, a 28 year old mother of four, was beaten until she fainted about three blocks away from her house in the southern city of Coyhaique. She survived the attack but her eyes ahd been gouged out and she suffered other injuries.

Ortega, her former partner, was the only suspect.

The campaign group #NiUnaMenos started in Argentina in August 2015 as a response to a rising number of femicides, and the movement soon spread across the continent.