Gender and Women Rights issues

"We didn't dance, but we talked and it worked in getting the message across that the people of Pakistan are RISING." Pardon. These emotions were unitedly shared amongst the energetic and enthusiastic campaigners of the "One Billion Rising" at the Air University, Islamabad.

February 14 2013. No this is not about Valentine’s Day. I was in Ahmedabad for the One Billion Rising (OBR) event. As I entered the Gujarat Vidyapith Sports Ground , there was a feeling of historicity. An international video stream was showing on large screens to throbbing music. I climbed up the steep steps to get a better view of the audience. The music, the visuals, the emotion, was phenomenal.

onebillionrising

ONE BILLION RISING Globally

STRIKE – DANCE – RISE

On 14 February 2013, women around the world and those who love them will rise up, dance and demand an end to violence against women. This global day of action marks the fifteenth anniversary of V Day, a global movement to end violence against women. Why are we rising? Because one in three women on this planet will be beaten or raped in her lifetime. That’s one billion women violated. To end this atrocity, one billion men and women are invited to show their collective strength and solidarity to end this violence, to say, "Enough! The violence ends now."

February 14th 2013 marks the fifteenth anniversary of V Day, a global movement to end violence against women. This year, it will be marked by One Billion Rising, a single day of action, which urges everyone to ‘Strike. Dance. Rise’, in order to draw attention to the fact that one in three of women worldwide, are likely to be raped or beaten in our lifetime. One Billion Rising urges individuals and groups to take time out from their schools and workplaces and show their solidarity through a range of creative activities, but particularly in the form of dance.

By Lalen de Vela

During the Arab spring in Egypt, citizens who took on the role of journalists during the uprising were able to churn out more media press releases than mainstream media, were more accurate in their reporting and were reporting events much faster. Many of these citizen journalists were women, and they were able to make the strong role of women visible in media during the revolution.

Manila, February 4, 2013 – Isis International, in partnership with WeAct 1325 and the Norwegian Embassy, today hosted “Huntahan, Balitaan at Kapayapaan: A Dialogue with Media and Mindanao Women on the Peace Process” at the Richmond Hotel in Pasig City. The event was a venue for four women from Mindanao to tell their personal stories about their experiences working and living in Mindanao and the various roles they have assumed in the common effort to bring lasting peace to the region.