1 Billion Rising to End Violence Against Women February 14th, 2013

It is a startling and sobering fact that one in three women in the world will be raped or beaten in her lifetime. Here in Canada, over 50% of women by the age of 16 will have experienced at least one incident of sexual or physical violence. These startling statistics cannot be ignored. We can no longer sit idly by. We must take action for change and the first step is spreading awareness and demanding the world take notice. It starts with one and one can become one billion thanks to V-Day.

V-Day is “a global activist movement to end violence against women and girls. V-Day is a catalyst that promotes creative events to increase awareness, raise money, and revitalize the spirit of existing anti-violence organizations. V-Day generates broader attention for the fight to stop violence against women and girls, including rape, battery, incest, female genital mutilation (FGM), and sex slavery.”

This year celebrates V-Day’s fifteenth anniversary on February 14, 2013. In commemoration of the organization’s anniversary they are inviting “one billion women and those who love them to walk out, dance, rise up, and demand an end to this violence. [The event] One Billion Rising [OBR] will move the earth, activating women and men across every country. V-Day wants the world to see our collective strength, our numbers, our solidarity across borders.” V-day is giving people an opportunity to stand up against the status quo and not be complacent. Unfortunately this type of violence is often over looked and doesn’t get the attention that it deserves but bringing awareness to the cause is half the battle.

For those wanting to participate and want to make a difference they can “put [their] event on the map to show that [they are] part of the movement! Activists in your area will be able to search for your event and join your Rising.” Joining or starting an event can all be organized through the 1 Billion Rising website where you can also review the Toolkit for ideas and aids to help get you on your way including sharing the message. Sharing the message is the best way to increase awareness and you can do so via Facebook, Tumblr and Twitter. For those on Twitter you can use the hashtags #1billionrising, #reasontorise and find official tweets at the Twitter handle @vday. Hashtags are a great way to stay connected and share information on a topic or follow an event.

As a further show of support, you can change your social media profile pictures to the 1 Billion Rising logo, add your voice to the Thunderclap and/or add a Twibbon to your Facebook and Twitter profile pictures.

If getting up to dance or take the time out of your day is not possible there are others ways to get involved. Remember that V-day’s 1 Billion Rising is all about action and what better way to help put your ideals into action than through volunteer work. You could organize a group of co-workers, fellow students, family or friends to volunteer their time on the 14th at a women’s shelter or other service centre. Get the message out about what you’re doing and why by sharing it on the 1 Billion Rising website and through your social media networks – you just might inspire others to follow suite and rise up. 

So this Valentine’s Day think globally and rise up for women everywhere. Let’s change the world. Keep up with the latest via the 1 Billion Rising newsfeed and blog. You can also check out the many videos that have been made including the three below:

1 Billion Rising (short film)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl2AO-7Vlzk[/youtube]

1 Billion Rising – Canada

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LinrSwJXcTM[/youtube]

Break the Chain

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fL5N8rSy4CU[/youtube]

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