Eve Ensler’s RISING Blog Series: celebrating a World Rising!

RISING Blog Series: Farmworkers, European Women’s Lobby & V-Day Staff

In this fourth installment of the RISING Blog series, we hear from Mily Trevino-Saucedo executive director of Lideres Campesinas, Colette de Troy & Valentina Brogna from the European Women’s Lobby; and V-Day staff members Tony Montenieri and Kate Fisher.

BRUSSELS RISING

by Colette de Troy & Valentina Brogna, Regional Coordinators (European Women’s Lobby)
One Billion Rising was an exciting way of campaigning against violence against women. We used music and art, we danced and sang, using our bodies to protest and to occupy public spaces so that our message could not be ignored and could be conveyed in a positive, non-violent way.

by Colette de Troy & Valentina Brogna, Regional Coordinators (European Women’s Lobby)

One Billion Rising was an exciting way of campaigning against violence against women. We used music and art, we danced and sang, using our bodies to protest and to occupy public spaces so that our message could not be ignored and could be conveyed in a positive, non-violent way. It was a great opportunity to rise for the eradication of violence against women for several reasons.

It was, first of all, a call on women to use their own body without shames and occupy the public space through dances. Women were asked, through their physical public presence, to assert their existence, their importance and their dignity: they were asked to take an active part within the public space. We all know that women cannot use public spaces as men do: a woman always has to pay attention to where she is walking, how she looks at men, how she dresses etc. This event let women be there and use the public space to express themselves and raise awareness about violence that many of them encounter in their lifetime.

One Billion Rising was conceived to raise awareness among women and to encourage them to speak up, not to feel ashamed if they have suffered from violence. It was an opportunity to invite them not to tolerate anymore and start denouncing violent behaviours and acts: “This is MY body. My body is HOLY. NO more excuses, NO more abuses”, the song tells us.

It was a call on men too (of course, perpetrators are for the vast majority men). Men were asked to acknowledge the existence of this worldwide movement against gender based violence and to take the pledge not to harm women. “Men who love women” were also asked to take an active part to the dances and events organised. In Brussels, men’s participation was welcomed and we had quite a lot of men, especially young ones.

The global nature of this festive event is also a feature to acknowledge as new and as a positive aspect of globalisation. We wouldn’t have had such a big success, hadn’t this festive idea been so widespread. Women (and men) all over the world were gathered on the same day to dance for the same cause. This produced a wonderful energy, as we knew we were not alone, we were billions dancing and expressing ourselves, affirming our importance and dignity, demanding respect.

The energy created by this worldwide initiative now cannot be wasted; it has to be conveyed towards better policies, namely better prevention, more certain punishment, better data collection and better protection for women who decide to denounce. Women must be sure that they are not alone in front of their aggressor; they have to perceive and be sure that the society is with them and that it is not them who have to feel guilty or ashamed for the violence suffered. Mentalities have to change and One Billion Rising can be seen as the biggest mobilisation ever contributing to this change.

One Billion Rising was thus a unique occasion to put the issue of violence against women again high in the media and, we hope, on the political agenda at all levels of decision-making. As part of the European Women’s Lobby, working every day to reach equality between women and men in Europe, we always bear in mind this political perspective. Changes in attitudes and policies go hand in hand and One Billion Rising is, for us, a big success but also an important starting point to build upon for a more gender equal Europe and a more respectful world.

Our Victories (what we have achieved through One Billion Rising in Brussels):

‘We have aided women to speak up and feel free to dance and sing to assert their dignity! We have helped activists, women’s associations and large public united to rise up and dance together against violence against women! We have brought men, especially young ones, to dance with us! We have encouraged local and international media to discuss again the issue of violence against women!’

FARMWORKERS RISING
by Mily Trevino-Saucedo, Regional Coordinator

¡Gracias a Eve y a toda la gente de V-Day que nos animó a ser parte de este esfuerzo global! Nos sentimos parte de un mundo que aún cree en la justicia, la paz y la no violencia.

¡Gracias a Eve y a toda la gente de V-Day que nos animó a ser parte de este esfuerzo global!

Nos sentimos parte de un mundo que aún cree en la justicia, la paz y la no violencia. Nos conforta saber que hay billones de gente interesada en hacer la diferencia. ¡Nuestros corazones y nuestras energías en Alianza Nacional de Campesinas se conectaron en forma increíblemente inexplicable!, con toda la hermosísima gente que participó este 14 de Febrero V-Day, uniéndonos a Un Billón de Pie. CONTINUE reading >
 

MY PERSONAL JOURNEY TO ONE BILLION RISING

by Tony Montenieri, V-Day Director of Operations
OBR technically began for me on February 14th 2012. Eve was flying from Australia to Los Angeles where after being on a plane for 14 hours she would get off the plane and head to CNN to announce the global action called One Billion Rising.
CONTINUE reading >
 

I’M NOT A DANCER

by Kate Fisher, V-Day Communications & Special Events Director
I’m not a dancer. I’m not overly coordinated. I’m a little self-conscious, I’m not at all graceful, and my rhythm is suspect.
CONTINUE reading >

RISE with Your Fellow Activists for V-Season 2013!

Bangladesh, Iran, the Yale Divinity School, New Dehli, Qatar, Ecuador, Russia, Jerusalem, Vienna, Namibia, Turkey, Germany, Nigeria, Japan, Bolivia…these are just a fraction of the over 1,500 locations (and still growing) where V-Day benefit events are taking place this V-Season.

V-Activists everywhere are taking the energy from ONE BILLION RISING and using it in their communities to raise funds and awareness to end violence against women and girls.

With four weeks left, there are hundreds of V-Day benefit events taking place throughout the world, so check out our V-Map, find an event near you, and don’t miss this opportunity to keep the momentum going!

ATTEND an event near you >