One Billion Rising

Tens of thousands of people in some 200 countries danced, shouted, sang and joined together on February 14th to mark One Billion Rising, a day of mass action to raise awareness and put a stop to violence against women. From Bukavu, Congo, to Brooklyn, N.Y., IRC staff members, supporters and members of communities the IRC serves participated in the events that also marked the 15th anniversary of the V-Day movement.
 
In Bukavu, IRC supporters listened to speeches and danced to demand an end to rampant violence against women in Congo. In New York, IRC staff members joined a march across the Brooklyn Bridge. IRC events also took place in London, Geneva, Miami, Salt Lake City and elsewhere. One Billion Rising was set against a backdrop of increasing violence against women including the gang rape of a medical student in Delhi, India, the shooting of the young activist Malala Yousafzai in Pakistan, and assaults on women in Syria.