Flash mobs, dances at Valentine's Day rally to end violence against women

A child plays at the National Library in Bucharest, Romania, Feb. 14, 2013, during an event as part of the 'One Billion Rising' international campaign to combat violence against women. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

TORONTO -- Some good-hearted Toronto folk marked Valentine's Day by rallying to end violence against women.

Several dozen people gathered in Nathan Phillips Square on Thursday as part of the One Billion Rising movement.

Women and men across 203 countries took part in the rallies to raise awareness about violence against women.

The Toronto gathering featured flash mob dancing, musical performances and guest speakers.

Organizers say the global campaign shows women who have experienced violence that they're not alone.

It's hoped such events can help pressure society to take a firmer stand against such violence.

" 1/8Women 3/8 from South Africa to Sweden have come together to dance and say enough is enough," said Tanisha Taitt of One Billion Rising Canada.

City councillors Kristyn Wong-Tam and Mike Layton were among the guest speakers at the event, which also featured a performance by the White Pine dancers, a First Nations storytelling group.

The United Nations estimates at least one in three women is beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused by an intimate partner during her lifetime.

Catherine Szymczyk, 24, said she had experienced violence in the past, but taking part in the rally allowed her to find comfort with those who went through something similar.

"It's enlightening because we're not just at a public speech, we get to dance and everyone makes it easy and cool to do," she said.