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One Billion Rising
One Billion Rising
"This is not a women's issue - it's a global crisis" Robert Redford
Diakonia Council of Churches joins NGOs, celebrities and organizations around the globe to support One Billion Rising campaign, which culminates on "V Day" Valentine's Day this year (14 February).
Valentine's Day 2013 will be the 15th anniversary of "V-Day", a day of action to end violence against women, initiated by founder and writer of The Vagina MonologuesEve Ensler. She has launched the One Billion Rising - a global campaign to encourage NGOs; schools, celebrities; community groups; faith bodies; organisations and individuals to rally around making a statement on Valentine's Day to support an end to gender violence.
When it comes to Valentine's Day 2013 -"Black is the New Red". Diakonia Council of Churches for many years has encouraged people to wear black every Thursday as a sign of mourning for victims of abuse. This year as Valentine's Day falls on a Thursday, people in KZN are invited to show their support of the campaign by wearing black, with a splash of red, on Valentine's Day.
Diakonia and many affiliated organisations will be adding their voices to the One Billion Rising Campaign by "planting" flowers from the Garden of Hope and Healing - the campaign held over the 16 Days of Activism in December in Durban Botanic Garden - at the Durban Magistrate's Court from 10am until noon. They will also be presenting to various authorities, a series of recommendations to appeal for more convictions of rape perpetrators. All are welcome!
People are encouraged to participate in "V-Day" - the idea is to make a tangible, symbolic, mass global public statement against domestic and gender violence. Globally - public activity on social media is encouraged - uploading videos, photos and pledges. Ensler wants one billion people across the globe to rise up against gender violence.