ULAN BATOR, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- A silent protest of "stuffed bunnies" to demand better protection of girls from sexual violence was organized in Mongolia on Monday on the occasion of the International Day of the Girl Child.
Sexual violence against girls has sharply increased in Mongolia in recent years, Batnasan Oyungerel, head of the Mongolian Women's Federation, which organized the protest, told Xinhua.
In 2017, about 130 girls were sexually abused in the country, with the number rising to 330 in 2020, Oyungerel said, adding that the number only includes cases recorded by police.
During the silent protest, the women's federation deployed a total of 330 stuffed bunnies at the central square in Ulan Bator, representing the 330 girls who were sexually abused last year, Oyungerel said.
In 2012, the United Nations designated Oct. 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child to recognize girls' rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world. Enditem
