What is it?
One Billion Rising has been described as a “feminist tsunami.” It is a movement for people across the world to rise up and demand an end to violence against women and girls.
One Billion Rising is:
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A global strike
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An invitation to dance
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A call to men and women to refuse to participate in the status quo until rape and rape culture ends
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An act of solidarity, demonstrating to women the commonality of their struggles and their power in numbers
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A refusal to accept violence against women and girls as a given
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A new time and a new way of being
The movement wants ending violence to be as important as ending poverty, AIDS or global warming.
When is it ?
Events will take place on the 14th February. This is the 15th anniversary of a global movement to end violence against women, V-Day. And also, of course, Valentines Day!
Why one billion?
One in three women on the planet will be beaten or raped in her lifetime. That is one billion women violated.
Where is it?
Nearly 190 countries are taking part and 13,000 organisations are involved in organising events, making One Billion Rising the largest ever grassroots global movement for change. It aims to build worldwide solidarity, showing violence against women is not a local issue or particular to any culture or religion or village or age.
Who is organising it?
The initiative is headed up by Eve Ensler, the creator of the Vagina Monologues and founder of V-Day. Ordinary people, activists, high profile supporters, civic leaders, and a wide range of grassroots and global organisations will all be taking part. From Norwich to Peru, through Bute, Manila and Luxembourg via San Francisco, Nigeria and Tel Aviv, activists are organising flashmobs, performances and seeking policy changes.
What can I do?
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Please write to your MP and ask them to vote in parliament for the One Billion Rising motion to make sex and relationship education part of the national curriculum for both boys and girls on Thursday 14th February- you can find a sample text to use when writing to them here and their contact details too.
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Take part in One Billion Rising events! On the 14th February One Billion Rising wants to take over Britain’s capital city – whether watching the debate in parliament or rising at the London Eye, the Hayward Gallery, the Young Vic, in Picadilly Circus, at the Southbank Centre, Whitechapel Art Gallery, or being part of the Londonwide Flashmob crew! If you can’t get to London there are now over 100 events listed around Britain – to find your local event see the list here and don’t forget to invite your friends and family as well as local councillors or MSP and Assembly Members to join you!
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Help tell the world about One Billion Rising- tweet about why you are rising by using the hashtag #obruk or #1BillionRising, share the tumblr page or share the Facebook updates.
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Support the OBR Arts Festival – or join with Eve Ensler at London Rising at the Cafe de Paris on Monday 4 February for an amazing evening of entertainment in the run upto the day itself!
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Recruit people to the campaign – ask everyone you can to also contact their MP or join in the rising themselves!
In the words of One Billion Rising, WALK OUT, DANCE, RISE UP, and DEMAND an end to this violence!
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