Skip To Content

    People In At Least 200 Countries Are Protesting Violence Against Women

    On Feb. 14, men and women around the world danced for "One Billion Rising," an initiative created by Eve Ensler to end gendered and sexual violence worldwide.

    Yesterday millions of people in China, Mexico, and at least 200 other countries danced through the streets to raise awareness for all survivors of gendered violence.

    The event, called "One Billion Rising For Justice," was founded by The Vagina Monologues writer Eve Ensler.

    It's meant to represent a break for survivors of violence who feel "confinement, obligation, shame, guilt, grief, pain, humiliation, and rage" the website says.

    The event lasts 48 hours and aims to include one billion men, women and children.

    "One in three women will be beaten or raped in her lifetime — which is one billion women — so I thought, 'What if 1 billion people stood up against gendered violence?'" Eve Ensler told BuzzFeed.

    The theme this year was "justice," in part to frame women's rights as an issue that affects everybody, Ensler said.

    "You cannot really look at any violence against women without looking at economic issues or environmental issues," said Ensler. "This year people can choose what they want to rise for. We're so used to siloing our issues in a way that keeps them nonthreatening. Now we're trying to say, 'We're all part of the same story.'"

    Here are a few of the places where survivors and supporters participated in the protest:

    Nepal

    Abu Dabi, United Arab Emirates

    Santa Monica, California

    Santa Monica joins #1billionrising campaign to stop violence against women. Beautiful day for it.

    Nevada City

    We rose up in Nevada City! Incredible turnout for our small town. #1billionrising

    Mexico

    UnBillondePie, todos unidos contra la trata!!! #rise4justice #Cuajimalpa @UnBillondePie @rosiorozco

    Romania

    #rise4justice ~ #Romania Rising. #1billionrising PIC via @PIN_Network

    Madrid, Spain

    #rise4justice ~ #Madrid Rising. #Spain #1billionrising. PIC via @SandraBrocksom

    The Gambia

    Santa Fe, N.M.

    Last Valentine's Day, people in 207 countries also participated in "One Billion Rising."

    View this video on YouTube

    youtube.com

    Video from last year's event