Event to focus on ending violence against women

For many women, Valentines Day is about hearts and flowers. But for many women worldwide, it’s just another day of fear. One in three women around the world will be beaten or raped in her lifetime. Many of those experience pain at the hands of the people closest to them.

So on Feb. 14, at 5 p.m. Empowerhouse will join with activists around the world for One Billion Rising, a day of activism to end violence against women and girls.  The local domestic violence agency will host an event at the University of Mary Washington from 5-7 p.m.

One Billion Rising began as a call to action based on the staggering statistic that one in three women on the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime. With the world population at 7 billion, this adds up to more than one billion women and girls.

The campaign is part of the V-Dayeffort,  a global activist movement to end violence against women and girls that raises funds

and awareness through benefit productions of Playwright/Founder Eve Ensler’s award winning play The Vagina Monologue and other works.

This Valentines Day will be the 15th anniversary of the V-Day effort, and to mark the day, Empowerhouse will join activists, writers, thinkers, celebrities, and women and men across the world to express outrage and demand an end to violence against women.

Ensler said:

“When we started V-Day 14 years ago, we had the outrageous idea that we could end violence against women. Now, we are both stunned and thrilled to see that this global action is truly escalating and gaining force, with union workers, parliament members, celebrities, and women of all backgrounds coming forward to join the campaign. When we come together on February 14, 2013 to demand an end to violence against women and girls it will be a truly global voice that will rise up.”

Empowerhouse will host “Empowering to Rise” at the University of Mary Washington, Great Hall on Feb. 14,  5 to 7 p.m.

To learn more about the event or about Empowerhouse, call 540/ 373-9372 or e-mail melissas@empowerhouseva.org.

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