One Billion Rising - February 14, 2013

You might be surprised to learn that some of the  teenage girls in this group, like many girls across the African continent have already been raped, beaten or abused by a male in their community, a teacher (in exchange for the promise of good grades or the ability to stay in school) or even a male family member. Abuses that can have effect on these young girls for a lifetime.

Now meet Mama Caroline (in centre), an HIV positive woman living in Kibera Slums in Nairobi, Kenya. Mamany Caroline and many other women living in Kibera have been raped, beaten or abused on a regular basis for simply needing to relieve themselves at the public washrooms. In Kibera people do not have indoor toilets in their homes and must access the public toilets (for which they have to pay to use). The need to use them, especially at night, usually results in being raped, even when an HIV positive woman reveals her status to her abuser. I can only imagiine what these women have goone through and how they continue to live on when there are few social services available to assist them. I truly do admire these women and girls for their resiliency.

Today, February 14th, we acknowledge the violence that has been perpetrated against women around the globe with One Billion Rising, a day of global action to bring awareness to violence against women. Today here in Muskoka as around the world women will join together at 1:00 pm to dance to show their support. The name One Billion Rising was created to mark the 15th anniversary of V-Day, created by Eve Ensler,Tony Award winning author and playwright who wrote The Vagina Monologues. The title makes reference to the UN statistic that one in three women on the earth will be raped, beaten or abused in their lifetime, and for some women that may happen many times.

So today on Valentine's Day - the day of love, I encourage you to rise up with your fellow sisters and brothers around the world and show your support for those women who do not have a voice and are unable to speak out on violence against women. By supporting and helping those we come in contact with who have experienced such abuse, we can help to break the chain of silence on violence.

For more information visit their website at onebillionrising.org.