February 14, 2013 will see over 13000 organisations around the globe coming together for the One Billion Rising campaign that demands to stop violence against women
By Team FI
One billion women are being called upon to stand up and rise in a demand to stop violence against women across the world on February 14, 2013. In South Asia, the time of rising is between 1300 (1 PM) and 1800 (6 PM). The One Billion Rising campaign was called into action by V-Day, an organization established by activist and playwright Eve Ensler. Activities towards creating awareness of the campaign have ramped up all over the world – over 13,000 organizations around the globe, and 176 countries have committed to participate and hold events on February 14, 2013.
The organization that kick started the campaign – V-Day – came into being on Valentine’s Day in 1998 due to the efforts of Eve Ensler and a group of women in New York City. The organization that describes itself as a global movement of grassroots activists pledged to generate awareness and interest and also funds to “stop violence against women and girls, including rape, battery, incest, female genital mutilation (FGM) and sex slavery.” One of the activities decided was to allow women groups all over the world to stage Ensler’s historical play Vagina Monologues once a year and use the funds generated for their local activities.
In 2012, V-Day decided to launch the campaign of One Billion Rising. When United Nation reported that 1 in 3 women on the planet, that is one billion women, will face violence – beaten or raped – in their lifetime, V-Day decided to invite one billion women across the world to stand up against violence – “walk out, dance, rise up, and demand an end to this violence” on February 14th, 2013 – the date of V-Day’s 15th Anniversary. The campaign states that, “One Billion Rising is a promise that we will rise up with millions of women and men around the world to say, “ENOUGH! The violence ends NOW”.”
In the South Asian region, across eight countries, more than 300 organizations have come together to launch the campaign in their respective areas. In India, the One Billion Rising Campaign is being worked on in more than 15 states. Organizations including women’s groups, Dalit groups, human right activists, writers, artistes including Aparna Sen, Javed Akhtar, Mahasweta Devi, Mallika Sarabhai, Mita Vasisht, Nandita Das, Rahul Bose, Rituparno Ghosh, Samik Bandyopadhyay, Shabana Azmi, Soumitra Chatterjee and Usha Uthup, and men and women and children have participated in the events that form the run up to February 14.
The One Billion Rising Campaign was launched in India in Delhi when Sangat, Jagori and the Jamia Outreach Programme along with over 36 women and community collectives/groups came together at the Jamia Millia Islamia University on November 24, 2012. The Minister for Women and Child Development, Delhi, Ms. Kiran Walia partnered the effort.
The International Association of Women in Radio and Television launched a film festival OUR LIVES … TO LIVE which had films from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Iran, Africa, Australia and South America. Simultaneously in Bengaluru and New Delhi on 23-25 Nov 2012. The film festival was also held in Mumbai and Thrissur.
In Mumbai, Vacha Trust launched One Billion Rising in Kalyan in Thane District on January 4 2013, with 500 girls. OBR was launched in Jaipur, Rajasthan on Human Rights Day in 2012 where over a thousand people assembled. As part of the One Billion Rising Campaign, Eve Ensler visited Delhi on the 7th and 8th of January.
Oath prepared by veteran feminist Kamla Bhasin
I PLEDGE
I will not discriminate against women and girls in any way
I will not be violent towards anyone, especially women and girls
I will not keep quiet if violence is done to me
I will actively oppose violence being done to any woman/girl.
Events
Mumbai – Black Bindi Day
Boycott Jan 26th for Women’s Rights in India
Time: Saturday, January 26, 2013 (All Day Event) GMT+05:30
Host: Deepti Datt
Location: Mumbai, India (Mumbai, Maharashtra)
Mumbai, Maharashtra 400050
Facebook page
February Events
February 10th
Awareness march and street dance
An Awareness March followed by a street dance by a local troupe, candle light vigil and a Signature Campaign
Time: Sunday, February 10, 2013 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM GMT+05:30
Host: Anuradha Kataria
Location: Delhi NCR (Gurgaon, Delhi NCR). Leisure Valley Park,
Sector 30, Gurgaon, Delhi NCR 122001
February 14 – Delhi Rising
Delhi is ready to rise for the women and girls around the world.
Joins us and participate in multiple flash mobs, demonstrations and other events to occupy public places.
Follow Delhi Rising on Twitter @delhirising
Time: Thursday, February 14, 2013 (All Day Event) GMT+05:30
Host: shruti singh
Location: New Delhi (Delhi, Delhi)
Bangalore Rising
Time: Thursday, February 14, 2013 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM GMT+05:30
Host: Neeraj Verma
Location: Victoria Statue, MG Road (Bangalore, KArnataka)
Pune Rising
Organised by Matru Chhaya Charitable Trust and S.M.A.R.T Women Internationa, the event will start at 11 am from Phoenix Market City and then go to Amanora township and then to S.G.S mall in M.G. Road.
Contact: www.matruchhaya.sewa@yahoo.co.in or burchettroland@yahoo.in. You can even call us on 9823707861.
Time: Thursday, February 14, 2013 (All Day Event) GMT+05:30
Host: Sabrina Burchett
Location: Wadgaon Sheri (Pune, Maharashtra)
Himalayas Rising
Students, activists, leaders, villagers and townspeople walk , dance and sing together. signature campaign, street plays, live band also planned.
Time: Thursday, February 14, 2013 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM GMT+05:30
Host: Meenakshi F. Paul
Location: The Ridge, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh 171001
Mumbai Rising
Time: Thursday, February 14, 2013 (All Day Event) GMT+05:30
Host: Apeksha Vora
Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra
Facebook page
One Billion Rising flash mob
Time: Thursday, February 14, 2013 12:00 PM – 12:10 PM GMT+05:30
Host: Chriselle B
Location: Bandra, Mumbai, Maharashtra
Facebook page
Chandigarh Rising
Details are still being worked on. What’s in the pipeline is a dance, a few street plays by teams from the local colleges, a platform for the local political leaders, a stage where local musicians may perform, etc depending on what can be prepared.
Feel free to pour in your ideas/recommendations!
Time: Thursday, February 14, 2013 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM GMT+05:30
Host: Eesha Devgan
Location: Sector 17 Plazio, Chandigarh 160044
Watch Break The Chain – One Billion Rising Anthem
Produced by Even Ensler and V-Day, directed by Tony Stroebel, music by Tena Clark and Tim Heintz and choreographed by Debbie Allen.
Featured photo courtesy – V-Day