Lima, Peru, Mar 26, 2015 / 10:16 am
More than half a million Peruvians participated in the historic March for Life 2015, held March 21 in Lima, rejecting abortion and speaking out in defense of life from conception to natural death.
In Peru, the right to life from conception is protected by the Constitution of Peru, the Civil Code, the Code of Children and Adolescents, and the American Convention on Human Rights. March 25 is celebrated in the country's Day of the Unborn, according to law.
Young people played a leading role in the march, as both volunteers and participants.
¡Una barra por la vida! #MarchaPorLaVida https://t.co/V2Ingt7lQZ
- ACI Prensa (@aciprensa) March 21, 2015
The massive demonstration doubled last year's figures, when 250,000 people marched for life.
During the first stage of the march, participants walked one mile along one of the main streets of the Peruvian capital.
Un mar de gente en la #MarchaPorLaVida, y llega en olas muy seguidas! https://t.co/udK4Z214wK
- ACI Prensa (@aciprensa) March 21, 2015
At the end of the avenue, hundreds of thousands of participants continued the journey to the Costa Verde, an open seaside area of the city.
Among those who attended the march were Congress members Juan José Diaz Dios, Juan Carlos Eguren and Julio Rosas. The latter attended leading to a large number of participants from evangelical churches who decided to join the March for Life.
Y este es el #Flasmob de la #MarchaPorLaVida pic.twitter.com/OcSdHEtVV6
- ACI Prensa (@aciprensa) March 21, 2015
On the main stage of the event, Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani of Lima announced the official numbers for the gathering: more than half a million people.
"This is the strong generation and the future of the country. We are a Peru that defends life, marriage and the family," the cardinal said.
Pope Francis also sent a message of encouragement to the participants of the event, encouraging them to "bear witness with courage and always proclaim the sanctity of every human being."
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