One Billion Rising

One Billion Rising
the GLOBAL campaign
is gathering Momentum in INDIA!
From Child Rights to
Oppressed Tribal Communities,
From Trafficking Survivors to
our LGBT Friends…
One Billion Rising
includes
.
EVERYONE
!
We demand a VIOLENCE-FREE
and EQUAL Society!
This OBR, Let’s “RISE FOR REVOLUTION, LOVE AND PEACE”
“KRAANTI, PYAAR AUR SUKOON KE LIYE UMDO”
Let’s
Echo
A
LOUD
CLEAR
VOICE
against violence and injustice
of ALL kinds!
Organizations across India have become REVOLUTIONARIES.
WE ARE RISING!
Here are the recent and future EVENTS of a few OBR RISINGS.
We await more.
AKSHARA, MUMBAI
Feb 14, 2014
Akshara’s first OBR Launch was a very
powerful dialogue between two
important women -Eve Ensler and
Indira Jaisingh.
Mumbai Rising for Justice on 14 Feb
was a spectacular event attended by
people from all walks of life, joined in by
many bystanders. The event was a
combination of sharing of experiences
of injustice from a dowry survivor,
struggle of Justice from LGBTQ community against 377, along with live music, dance
performances and speech by
Nandita Das and Gul Panang, with
their personal life experiences of
violations woven into their
sharings.
Famous Oddissi dancer Jhelum
Paranjape and her group
performed a dance, there were
Hoola Hoop dancers who got
everyone twirling, and Zoomba
dancer who got the entire
audience on their feet; this was a powerful experience of protest and fun!
Watch the RISING 2014 video from Mumbai!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzKjKZeZYes&feature=youtu.be
Feb 14, 2015
Look out for Mumbai Rising
on 14th Febrary 2015 at
Worli Sea Face - DANCE
FOR A CAUSE. Women's
organizations, community
organizations and youth
organizations have come
together to organise this
year’s Mumbai Rising- It will be a rally with dance on the sea front with women drummers, girls
group playing Lezim ( a form of dance very special in Maharashtra) and Zoomba dancers. There
will be a moving truck serving as stage and decorative handcarts as part of the dance rally. The
event will be colorful with all participants being asked to join in pink and purple attire, with satin
ribbons and dancing shoes.
PANEL DISCUSSION, DELHI UNIVERSITY
Sep 4, 2014
Around 60 students participated in a vibrant One Billion Rising panel discussion held on
September 4 in Hindu College, Delhi University on the issue of Demystifying Masculinities and
Femininities, debunking conventional perceptions. Panel members comprised well-known
activists like Kamla Bhasin along with the internationally known dancer Navtej Johar. The event
concluded with rousing slogans by panel members and students – slogans of freedom for
women and freedom of choice.
EKTA, MADURAI
13-15 Sep, 30 Nov, 2014
As part of OBR, Ekta organised
the Southern Regional
Consultation of Forum to
Engage Men, India towards the
global symposium 2014 on 13th
and 14th Sep, 2014. Ekta successfully launched OBR with a Press meet on Sep 15, 2014
attended by all the major print media. Ekta has been mainstreaming OBR in all their actions- the
16 days activism period, South Asian Women's day and the preparatory activities towards 2nd
Global Symposium of MenEngage.
The South Asian Women's
Day was celebrated in
Meenakshi College on Nov
30 with more than 700
students. to assess and
discuss their
understanding of violence.
It was heartening to hear
the articulation of multiple
forms of violence.. There
was recognition of emotional violence too. The 16 day campaign, OBR and South Asian Women's
Day were introduced to the students. In the end, with one candle each, the students took the
pledge to fight against violence on women.
OLAKH, GUJARAT
14 November, 2014 to 8 March, 2015
WALK 'n' PAINT, Children’s Day, 14th November: More than 700 children rose for OBR from
aided, unaided, special and corporation schools, supported by around a 100 volunteers
participated in a procession with placards containing hand written slogans and a wall
painting based on themes of
safety, security and inclusion.
International Day to End
Violence Against Women,
25th November:
A focus group discussion with
around 25 women and girls
from the Gotri (marginalized
community) on safety and
security, and expressed
outrage against recent rape of a 9 year old in the community.
Human Rights Day, 10th December: Study circle with Olakh volunteers to discuss the
connection between safety and security, human rights and gender based violence.
NIRBHAYA DAY, 16th December: Almost 100 participants took part in a film screening,
discussion and candle light vigil on
the day to talk about women's
safety in the city and
commemorate the Delhi Gang Rape
of 2012.
Rising for a safe and secure
Vadodara: A perception study with
youth between the ages of 14 and
25 including Focus Group
Discussions and a Survey on Safety
and Security in January.
February, A Safe City Action Plan Contest in encouraging architecture students to submit
innovative ideas for safety improvements in terms of urban planning.
March: Public hearing, publication of the perception study and an exhibition.
ARPAN SOCIETY, PUNJAB
18, 20 Dec 2014
Organised a two-day OBR Camp in two
venues for economically challenged families
on the issue of Violence Against Women and
Acts for the protection of women. A serious
interaction was held on the problems of
declining sex ratio with the local community.
Arpan is going to conduct a street play
based on gender discrimination to bring about awareness among the larger community.
KOLKATA RISTA
Dec 20, 2014
For the transgender
community to get the
recognition they deserve, the
society must be sensitized to
the layered issue of multiple
gender identities. With this
vision in mind, Kolkata Rista
along with other NGOs
organized an OBR event in the
form of a film screening on
men and masculinities. Santosh Kumar of Kolkata Rista said that the path of gender-based
violence that the country has chosen is a dangerous one to tread on. Every class in the society
must realize its responsibilities toward the protection of equal rights that women, transgenders
and men have.
RASHTRIYA DALIT MAHILA ANDOLAN (RDMA), JHARKHAND
Dec 22, 2014
A day-long One Billion Rising workshop was organized in Ranchi as a part of Dalit and Adivasi
women awareness campaign. The issue of the violent acts against Dalit and Adivasi women in
the state was discussed along with the recommendations for bringing an end to such violent
acts in Jharkhand. The property rights and entitlements of women were shared with the
participants. Representatives of around 20 organizations from different districts were present
in the workshop, who sang songs that promoted a violence-free society for women.
SAMARTHYAM, DELHI
Feb 1, 2015
"Reclaim our cities and make these safe and accessible for all: Promote Accessgiri and
Stop Violencegiri""
One Billion Rising will start with a bang! Drummers from Times of India will beat the drums and
the participants will dance, aerobics and whatever they wish to through dance!
Promote Accessgiri
Reclaiming the streets and public places so that they can have universal accessibility and
independent mobility. Samarthyam has snakes and ladder game for people to participate and
take back the experience why accessibility is essential for all.
End Violencegiri
Paint and pick a T-shirt with your commitment to End Violence. These T-shirts will also be used
for the 14 Feb main event.
YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION (YWCA), SIMLA
Feb 1 to 13, March 10 to 31, 2015
YWCA has a lot going on for OBR!
Pamphlet distribution on Domestic Violence Act and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences
Act by 15 March, a possible Community Radio program aired on 14 Feb, Signature Campaign,
Flash Mob and Walk on Feb 12/13, Theme Songs, gathering and discussions on 14 Feb, Folk
theatre, Police Training in March, Workshops and Discussions from March 10-31.
RP EDUCATION SOCIETY, HARYANA
Feb 4, 2015
A One Day Dialogue will be organized under OBR at Rural Resource Centre, District Rohtak,
Haryana This event will see the active participation of 100 people - NGOs/Civil Society
Organizations, SMS/SHG members, Panchayti Raj Institution Members, Students, Educationists,
Women, Men, Youth, Govt. Officers, Media personnel etc. The topic discussed will be centered on
violence against women, how it affects us, what causes it, and how to end it.
RAJASTHAN RISING!
Feb 8 to March 8, 2015
The Rajasthan groups are having a planning meeting this week. The tentative plan is to take the
village school teachers, Anganwadi workers and the Panchayat members along and demand
rights and entitlements. It is also proposed to rise for the Right to Choice against Love Jihad.
They plan to do mobilisation around issues of rights and entitlement. The Rajasthan groups plan
to cover 57 blocks and 24 districts with their Rising events.
SANJH JAGORI, CHANDIGARH
Feb 10 to 12, 2015
A series of Rising events like Smart mob (Luddi, Punjabi form of dance), Mute march and Singing
at 5 prime locations of the city including a school, two colleges and Panjab University.
10 Feb- A smart mob of 150
students will perform on various
Punjabi bolis through the dance
form of Luddi, choreographed by
Jas k Shan’s group. Vikram, a
local singer, will perform feminist
songs by Kamla Bhasin. A
Chandigarh Police officer might
speak on the occasion. This plan
will be repeated in another
central location in Chandigarh.
11 Feb - The same chronology of event will take another college by storm, and later, the famous
university in Chandigarh- Panjab University – will Rise too.
12 Feb - Sanjh Jagori will perform the flash mob and songs in two locations. After getting their
faces painted, all the participants will join together for a Mute March at Sukhna Lake.
DARJEELING MARY WARD SOCIAL CENTRE (LORETO)
Feb 12, 2015
- One Billion Rising Press release in Journalist Club with Kamla Bhasin.
- Caravan and a rally from 10 tea plantation women who will also do street plays on the way in
three areas.
- Rally by 10-15 schools\Colleges, women groups from tea plantations and different NGO'S
begins from two different locations and will be opened by Kamla Bhasin and the Commissioner.
- The main Media partners for this event are Radio Misty 94.3 FM and Dainik Jagran.
AZAD INDIA FOUNDATION, BIHAR
Feb 14, 2015
RISINGS in different villages
Prabhat Rally by women, Nukkad
Natak on violence against women,
and on education for women, and
Freedom song by the team. 500
women and girls will RISE from AIF
literacy centers in two blocks, and
Self Help Group women.
ASSOCIATION FOR PROMOTION SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (APSD),
Feb 14, 2015
HARYANA
OBR will be a witness to a One Day Workshop by APSD at Hisar attended by NGO representatives,
village Panchayat members, Social workers, Advocates and numerous educationists. The
workshop will aim at spreading the message of OBR among the participants, capacity building
among rural and urban women and making them aware of their rights.
KOLKATA MARY WARD SOCIAL CENTRE (LORETO)
Feb 14, 2015
The 14 Feb event of OBR will be celebrated in Kolkata by the Kolkata Mary Ward Social Centre
(Loreto), at the grounds of St. Joseph’s School, Bowbazar. The celebration will include school
and college students, and adults from all spheres of life. Talks are on for performances by
renowned singers and bands, as well as dance performances. The school students will also give
their performances during this event and voice their opinions on this platform. The expected
audience strength is 3000.
JAGORI RURAL, HIMACHAL PRADESH
Jan 1 to Feb 14, 2015
Jagori Rural kick started the New
Year through 10 OBR candle light
marches that spanned across 12
different locations in Himachal
Pradesh from Jan 1 to Feb 7. Over 150
protesters joined the Jagori Rural
team to rally in the streets near their
local panchayat meeting-place. The
rally was focused on involving men
and boys to make commitment to
become non-violent men and work toward gender equality. Nearly 200 villagers joined in.
Around 10 film screenings have been organized for colleges, panchayats and taxi unions on
separate days. A play will be performed in two locations and a tribunal is being planned to hear
out cases of violence victims and survivors.
Jan 21, 22 – Parallel sessions were conducted with boys from 6 schools from 4 different blocks
in Kangra district illuminating the troubles of masculinity. It was discussed how masculinity is
a construction that deprives boy of
their humanity and sensitivity. It was
stressed that boys can break out of
this cycle, and by doing so, can live
non-violent lives and as equals with
girls and women. In total, 901 girls and
boys attended the sessions.
14 Feb- Jagori Rural is going BIG. With
a public event that features powerpacked plays, a live band with feminist
music & other cultural performances, the participation of Youth in thousands will ensure that
the message of Love, Peace and Equality is heard, absorbed and spread like the moon light. The
event will be noticeable for its passionate and positive engagement with young men on
discussions on how to end violence in daily lives. The event is being organized with full support
of the prime newspaper that will cover the entire range of events.
Jagori Rural, Himachal Pradesh & SAMYAK, Maharashtra
A two-day OBR event in the form of workshop will be organized in the first week of March on
Gender and Masculinity with the students of Bilaspur College, conducted by Anand Pawar from
Samyak and the Jagori Rural team.
ANHAD, HARYANA
Feb 19, 2015
More than 8 groups will join for
the celebration of One Billion
Rising in Haryana. Around 200
girls will participate from
Government Girls College. A
poster and poetry competition
will be organized in school and
colleges before the event, and
their work will be displayed. The
program will include
exhibitions, skits, street theatre, dance performances and songs. Experts will be present to
speak on the central issues. The campaign will continue beyond this event.
CHAUPAL, CHHATTISGARH
Mahila Sammelan- Women’s Convention - A RISING Gathering of around 500 tribal women, where they will
discuss and put forward their demands on issues of health & nutrition rights, right to food & work, gender
rights, and issues of people with disabilities. This convention is to be held at different blocks in Koriya district
of Chhattisgarh- on 28th february, 2nd March and 3rd March. Currently, a large number of women leaders
from the people's organizations associated with Chaupal in three districts are standing for the 3-tier
Panchayat elections. The results will be out on 4th Feb.
Traditionally, girls & women are
not allowed to dance ‘Saila’. It’s
meant for boys & men. Tribal
women's organization Adivasi
Adhikar Samiti encouraged girls
to learn it and now they perform
it every year at the Annual
Summit. In the first year, the
village Panchs (men) ostracized
the girls for doing Saila and
levied a penalty. The Sangathan
leaders interacted with the men
and made them commit not to
harass the girls. The situation is
changing gradually.
MORE DELHI RISINGS!
Azad Foundation in collaboration with CHSJ and Asmita Theatre have concluded their first OBR event in
Nathupura, and will be now having these events across Delhi in various locations such as Bhalaswa, Wazirpur,
Vishwas Nagar, Anand Vihar JJ Colony, Kalyanpuri, Gautampuri amongst others. They also have a big event
planned in Lakshmi Nagar for 14 Feb!
Take Back The Night by RAHI was a great event with 100 youth campaigners taking part!
OBR has participation from LSR and Miranda House this year, and have an all girls band on board!
Youth from Jagori's community area in Badarpur will perform a dance on 14th February. Jagori has also
planned events in their community outreach areas.
Srijanatmak Manushi Sanstha (Sms), Delhi on Feb 8 will have Street performances (short dance or
theatrical pieces) in 3-4 places. This OBR peace walk will be in collaboration with local movers and shakers,
Local RWAs and residents, NGOs, etc.
Feb 14: Kids and youth will perform on the Freedom song. SMS has added bits of Tagore’s prayer “where the
mind is without fear” (sung by AR Rehman) as a prelude to the song.
Manas Foundation: Flex boards with messages and slogans composed by Kamla Bhasin will be distributed to
the auto-drivers after their participation in gender sensitization trainings from a week prior to 14 Feb to
assist in spreading awareness regarding the OBR event.
More Rising Players of OBR Delhi
Nine is Mine on Feb 10 with 10,000 children, Ruth Gonsalves of Music Basti, Beti Zindabad Campaign of
Action Aid, Wada na Todo Abhiyan.
CARPED, HYDERABAD
 Signature campaign to stop
violence against women and
popularize help lines.
 Short film on hysterectomies
followed by a discussion on "what
is next after hysterectomies justice for victims" (participated
by victims, health experts, Legal
Services Authority, Women
Groups, NGOs, activists, media).
 Discussion on "challenges of child
marriages - role of civil societies" (participated by youth - men and women, adolescents,
women, Child Marriage Prohibition Officers, Priests of all religions, Police and Legal services
Authority)
 Rally with placards, slogans; A network of NGOs to implement and strengthen the campaign in
Telangana; and an Online campaign.
SANLAAP, KOLKATA
SANLAAP works for the victims and survivors of trafficking and they shall organize an OBR
event inside their shelter for two hundred residents - girls and women, along with the fifty staff
members who care for them. Other organization members will also be invited.
SPECIAL RISING!
Let’s all wish OBR a Happy Birthday!
Odisha celebrated OBR’s Birthday on Jan 24, 2015.
B
EYOND
ORDERS . . .
ASIA RISING!
GARDEN OF HOPE
January 11-12
A large OBRR public event
was organized by a well
known feminist
organization, Garden of
Hope in Taipei. Eve Ensler
along with Monique Wilson,
the Global director of OBR,
a number of feminist
activists including Abha Bhaiya and Kamla Bhasin from India, and One Billion Rising
coordinators from 8 Asian countries met in Taipei at the Asian Symposium. Participants shared
their stories of activism, achievements, and challenges. A call was issued to the whole of Asia to
join the OBR revolution and Rise together to end violence against Girls and Women! They are
planning the OBR rising throughout the country.
MEXICO RISING!
More than 22 Mexican States will rise on 14 Feb, 2015. The central intention is to raise
awareness to end violence and human trafficking in Mexico. The largest event will be in Mexico
City in the plaza of "The Monument to the Revolution”. The RISING groups are joining forces with
the local government and INMUJERES (The Mexican institute of women). It will be a day of dance
and music. Several bands will perform before the event culminates with a flash mob of "Rompe
las cadenas" that will
be sang live by
Manoella Torres.
Almost the entire city
will join in the
Revolution.
The second largest
event on Feb 15 will be
in the valley where the
pyramids of
Teotihuacan rest. The
local government of
the "Estado de Mexico" has lent this major tourist point for the Rising.
Though the Pyramids Rising will be on Feb 15, talks are on with the government for all
elementary schools of the Estado de Mexico to Rise on Feb 13 so that the importance of ending
violence is inculcated at a young age itself. They will try to break the Guinness Record of the
maximum number of people doing the "Rompe las cadenas" flash mob that day. If not broken,
they will at least have a lot of young souls making the world tumble!
The rest of the Risings will take place in iconic places of each city: Playa del Carmen, Cancun,
Port of Veracruz, Puerto Vallarta, La paz, and Plaza de la Revolucion (Revolution Plaza in
Guadalajara) to name a few.
EUROPE RISING!
FEMINIST CARAVAN
Women who are FED UP with racist, sexist, classist, fascist, violent, misogynistic, militaristic and
capitalistic colonial patriarchy are making their story! They shall begin from March 8 and stop
on October 17 - as the World March of Women - to link grassroots feminist movements,
struggles and resistances in the Feminist Caravan. The journey will begin in the East of Turkey,
Kurdistan, and travel North, West, East and South to end in Portugal.
Their aim is to bring visibility to various political, economic, cultural and social struggles and
resistances as part of the World March of Women's 4th International Action.
Read more about it!
http://www.verkami.com/projects/10679-feminist-caravan-2015
NEW YORK CITY RISING!
ARTISTIC UPRISING, 7 Feb, 2015
HAMMERSTEIN BALLROOM, NYC
A Revolutionary evening of Performance & Slam
Poetry, DANCING, Music, & Activist Inspiration.
Proceeds will support the Rising work to end
violence against women in Afghanistan, Democratic
Republic of Congo, Kenya, and the Philippines.
More Artistic Uprisings for you!
http://www.pinterest.com/comm0333/artisticuprising/
REVOLUTIONARIES!
Let’s celebrate the inspiring RISINGS across India.
Our collective and consistent voices will surely bring the change of Love, Peace and
Equality.
Anyone who wishes to share their One Billion Rising events, do email us a brief report of
the event with photos and videos.
STAY INSPIRED
.
KEEP RISING!
Candle light march by Jagori Rural,
Himachal Pradesh