Around 12,000 Guatemalans climbed an extinct volcano on Saturday, January 21, 2012, to protest against domestic violence in the Central American country.

Participants formed what they hope is the largest ever human chain, which went from the foothills of Volcan Agua to its crater. The first group of people arrived in the village of Santa Maria de Jesus, on the outskirts of la Antigua Guatemala, at 4.30am and began the five hour ascent to the volcano’s 3,765m peak.

Amongst those taking part in the activity was Guatemala’s new president, Otto Perez Molina, who arrived on the scene by helicopter and handed the national flag to the event’s coordinators. The flag was passed up to the top of the volcano where those at the crater sat on a giant heart banner and shouted: “No to violence.”

The event, Subida por la Vida (Climb For life), was organized to raise awareness of domestic violence and promote the campaign Rompe el Ciclo (Break the Cycle).

According to the United Nations, Guatemala has one of the highest murder rates in the world and many parts of the country are considered more dangerous now than they were during the 1960-1996 Civil War. Last year alone, nearly 700 women were murdered.

Read the full story at Latina Lista