Santiago, Nov 25 (IANS): Thousands of people gathered in the centre of the capital to protest violence against women to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

The UN designated November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women to commemorate the Mirabal sisters, who were assassinated on the same day in 1960 for opposing the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo in the Dominican Republic.

A crowd of around 5,000 joined the two-hour march on Friday organised by the Chilean Network against Violence towards Women, bringing traffic along one the city's main arteries to a standstill.

Protesters were pleased by the large turnout, calling for an end to gender-based violence both in Chile and around the world, Efe news reported.

According to the protest organisers, 61 femicides have been recorded in the country so far this year, in addition to the 36 women who have committed suicide.

Women in Chile have called on authorities to amend the law on gender-based violence as the current legislation only accounts for violence within marriages and relationships.