Women march for their rights

Defenders of women's rights marched through the Senegalese capital, Dakar, on Thursday to protest violence against women and the impunity with which these acts are carried out, news organisations reported. Vivian Wade, wife of President Abdoulaye Wade, was among the demonstrators from non-governmental women's organisations, human rights groups and civil society. They ended their rally at the gates of the presidential palace where they delivered a joint protest letter. In it, they demanded the creation of a national observatory of women's and girls' rights, stiffer punishment for women beaters and an amendment in the law that would allow rights bodies to represent civil society in court proceedings. Receiving the protestors, President Wade pledged to set up the observatory, the government-owned daily, 'Le Soleil', reported. Earlier this week 500 women demonstrated for their rights in the town of Thies, 50 km east of Dakar.