'One Billion Rising': On Valentine's day, campaign to end violence against women

New Delhi: Women and men from all walks of life will come together today to pledge their commitment to put an end to violence against girls and women. A series of cultural events have been planned across the country as part of the global campaign which is being called 'One Billion Rising'.  

Women organisations, elected representatives, legal luminaries, actors, artists, NGOs and academic institutions apart from individuals are expected to participate in the day-long programme, its organisers said.

The campaign will simultaneously be held in 200 other countries.

In New Delhi, its highlight will be a cultural event at Parliament Street between 5 and 8 PM, which will feature a play followed by song and dance performances by students of Lady Shri Ram College, Miranda House and Kamala Nehru College.

A group of physically challenged youths will also perform dance acts at a number of Metro stations during the day to raise awareness on the safety of women.

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"We thank Delhi Metro for joining OBR campaign to make Delhi a safe, gender-friendly and inclusive city," Anjlee Agarwal, executive director of Samarthayam, an organisation working for the rights of the differently-abled, said.

South Asia Coordinator of the OBR campaign Kamla Bhasin said, "We are launching Indian women's and girl's freedom struggle and we are going to question every patriarchal establishment including ourselves. We seek freedom from patriarchy and freedom from violent masculinity.

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"So, for us, 'OBR' is for justice, equality, peace and harmony. We need to work on all aspects of life - laws, governance, family, culture, religion, media -- and today we commit to carry forward this freedom movement," she said.

The campaign has received support from the Dalai Lama and Sangay Choden Wangchuk, the Queen Mother of Bhutan.

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