Thousands rally in Italy to call for action on violence against women

A woman holds a banner during a demonstration at the Colosseum in Rome (Alessandra Tarantino/AP)

Tens of thousands took to the streets of Italy’s main cities on Saturday to mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, just as an Italian man suspected of killing his ex-girlfriend was extradited from Germany.

The killing of 22-year-old university student Giulia Cecchettin, allegedly at the hands of her former boyfriend, sparked outrage across Italy, where on average one woman is killed every three days.