Curfew for men, or how Bolivia’s capital marks International Women’s Day

The streets of Bogota were women-only zones into the early hours of Saturday, after the city's flamboyant mayor declared a one-night curfew for men - as an "educational exercise." More than half a million women took to the streets late Friday, in a show of unity against domestic and urban violence. Men were asked to stay at home to babysit or do the housework. The city hall scheduled special events for the women during the curfew ordered by Bogota Mayor Antanas Mockus. Mr. Mockus was seeking to give the capital's men pause to reflect on the fact that of the 21,000 violent deaths in Bogota over the past five years, with men responsible for some 18,500 of them. The aim was also to throw the spotlight on domestic violence. In a recently released survey, four in 10 women reported having being struck in the past year by a boyfriend or husband. On Saturday, Mr. Mockus, who has been mayor since January, declared that the women-only night had been a success.