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Ashima Sharma, Keekli Reporter, 14th February, 2014, Shimla
14th February was celebrated as ‘One Billion Rising’ to awaken people worldwide to end violence against women as YWCA (Young Women’s Christian Association), Shimla in association with Jagori Rural, Sangat and Jan Abhiyan Sanstha joined with activists around the world for the global mass anti-violence campaign here today on The Ridge, Shimla. This year, the One Billion Rising launched its third campaign as young girls from Shimla City and around actively participated in this uprising by wearing T-shirts with a tagline “Drum, Dance and Rise”. A group theme dance — flash mob — was also performed followed by a rally by enthusiastic girls.
This movement is a part of the global campaign which began as a call to take action based on the staggering statistic that one in every three women on the planet are beaten or raped during her lifetime. With the world population at more than seven billion, this adds up to more than ‘One Billion Women and Girls’. The campaign build upon the energy and momentum that was created on 14th February, 2013 and 2014 when one billion activists in over 200 countries and territories came together to rise and dance and demand an end to violence against women. Girls and women all around actively participated in the event as it was seen as the biggest mass actions of its kind in human history.
Discussions, talks and presentations on various social causes of abuses against women such as — ‘violence against women and children’, ‘gender justice and muscularity’ — also took place in the YWCA campus, Shimla. Speakers for the event were Prof. Meenakshi Faith Paul, Coordinator, One Billion Rising 2015; Dr. Richa Minocha, Member Secretary, Jan Abhiyan Sanstha; Phalma Chauhan, District Secretary, AIDWA; Sumitra Chandel, Former Vice President, Gyan Vigyan Samiti; Surender Kumar, Trustee, Umang Foundation; and representatives from various school and colleges. Residents of Shakrori Village, Sunni and Chaili Panchayat were also part of this event.