[Brussels, 07 March 2013] On 14 February 2013 a unique succession of festive events took place across the globe, from Australia to the RDC, from Mexico, Canada, England to South Africa, all five continents shook with dancing and singing with one common aim: showing our refusal to put up with any more violence against women, in any place, any time, or anywhere, showing that we are fed up with it and to demand that it STOP!
Three weeks ago, the whole world took part in the largest mobilisation ever against violence against women. Europe took part!
Violence against women is one of the most pervasive violations of human rights: it affects one billion women at least once in their lifetime. One billion women is one sixth of humanity, and one third of all women in the world. It is not a joke, these are verifiable UN statistics. “One Billion Women Violated is an Atrocity. One Billion Women Dancing is a Revolution!”: from this starting point, “The Vagina Monologues” author Eve Ensler, initiator of V-Day, proposed this worldwide day of festive events, called One Billion Rising, to globally show that this scourge has to finish.
The European Women’s Lobby participated in One Billion Rising with a big event in Brussels: our flash mob was rocked by the original song “Rise Up, Stand Up!” and dance by Cecile Klefstad gathered more than 800 people in Place de la Monnaie.
All of Europe danced and sang: hundreds of events were organised all over the continent. EWL’s members were very active in rising for the cause of One Billion Rising! Here are a brief sample of our members’ actions on 14 February 2013 for you to enjoy.
The Balkans
The Balkans were one of the most active parts of Europe for One Billion Rising and the denunciation of violence against women. Rada Boric, Member of the EWL’s Executive Committee, coordinated all One Billion Rising actions in the region. Look at this video from AlJazeera showing some moments of different events in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Macedonia.
In Zagreb, men participated together with women and expressed their refusal of violence against women. The Croatian President, Ivo Josipovi?, also actively participated:
In Sarajevo, lots of young women and men rose: watch their video here.
In Belgrade the Network Women against Violence, Women in Black, Women’s Group “Atina”, Roma Children Center, Youth Group of Helsinki Committee for Human Rights organised a large event with the participation of the television stars Mirjana Karanovic, Ana Sofrenovic, Katarina Gojkovic and Nikola Djuricko. Women and feminist organizations held the ONE BILLION RISING protest in ten different towns in Serbia: Novi Sad, Novi Becej, Novi Pazar, Kikinda, Krusevac, Kraljevo, Leskovac, Nis, Vlasotince and Belgrade.
Many thanks to all those who showed their support to the cause! Let us not give in, let us keep on working towards the eradication of violence: “till the violence ends”!
