Archive for the "V-Day" Category
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RISE4JUSTICE: Christine Schuler Deschryver In Conversation w/ Eve (May 13, NYC)
On Tuesday, May 13, V-Day and ABC Home are proud to present a RISE4JUSTICE event with V-Day Congo Director & Director of City of Joy Christine Schuler Deschryver, in conversation with Eve Ensler.
Join us as we discuss the City of Joy, the V-World Farm, and an update about the fifth graduating class! Hear directly from Christine about the situation facing women and girls in Congo, and the work being done on the ground to end the violence.
WHAT: V-Day Congo Director & Director of City of Joy Christine Schuler Deschryver, in conversation with Eve Ensler
WHEN: Doors at 6pm, event from 6:30pm – 8:30pm
WHERE: Deepak Homebase at ABC Carpet & Home
888 Broadway at East 19th Street, NYC
TICKETS: $20 General Admission* available here >
Your $20 donation will help support City of Joy, a revolutionary community for women survivors of gender violence in Bukavu, DRC.
Watch live online at vday.org/livestream
*V-Day has a select amount of $10 activist tickets available by emailing rsvp@vday.org
WATCH Christine Schuler Deschryver: “City of Joy is a community, a place where love lives. Everything is based on love, and I think that’s the only way you can change the world.“
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The Vagina Monologues, will return in a new form when the first New York City revival opens for a Spanish language engagement at its original Off-Broadway home. Los Monólogos de la Vagina will begin performances at the Westside Theatre (407 West 43rd Street) on 6 May. Opening night is scheduled for 18 May. Mexican director Jaime Matarredona helms the production. It is produced by Morris Gilbert and Federico González Compeán. This will mark the first time that a mainstream Off-Broadway theatre has hosted a commercial Spanish language play for an ongoing run. The production will be modeled after the current Mexico City production. Los Monólogos de la Vagina will be performed by a revolving cast and a portion of each ticket sold will go directly to benefit V-Day.
Miriam Colón, Kate del Castillo and Angélica Vale will appear in the production from 6 May through 11 May, with del Castillo, Vale and her mother, Angélica María, performing from 14 May through 1 June.
Tickets are on sale now and available through www.telecharge.com
Spanish-Language ‘Vagina Monologues’ to Play at Westside Theater (New York Times) >
Spanish ‘The Vagina Monologues’ Goes Off-Broadway (NPR) >
Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues to Return to Off-Broadway…in Spanish! (broadway.com) >
The Vagina Monologues to Make Off-Broadway Return in Spanish, Begin. May 6 (broadwayworld.com) >
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“Our ‘Making the Grade‘ report – released jointly by SAFER and V-Day in October – highlighted the lack of accessibility, oversight and enforcement of existing college sexual assault policies,” SAFER (Students Active For Ending Rape) and V-Day, the global activist movement to end violence against women and girls. “College student activists reported on their schools existing policies as well as a need to address the existing culture of rape.
V-Day is pleased that Senators Gillibrand and McCaskill utilized the report as a tool for advancing legislation on this critical issue. We applaud Senators Gillibrand and McCaskill for their attention, for advancing the important work led by student survivors and advocate groups, and for their commitment to creating violence-free campuses nationwide.”
READ full press release >
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On 14 February, Meggan Watterson and Rha Goddess rose with us at JustLove for ONE BILLION RISING FOR JUSTICE.
On 17 May, V-Day will be rising with them, and more, for REVEAL! Join us and experience the magic that happens when women dare to dance, heal, and transform their lives!
Special student rate available. Email REVEAL@iamcreativesolutions.com!
WHO: REVEAL founder Meggan Watterson, Latham Thomas, Alisa Vitti, Kate Northrup, Jessica Ortner, Rha Goddess, Rochelle Schieck and more
WHAT: REVEAL – The Event
WHERE: NYU Center for Spiritual Life, 238 Thompson Street, NYC
WHEN: Saturday, 17 May, 10am – 6pm EST
MORE info >
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V-Day has committed to supporting PWCE (Promoting Women Capabilities by Education) to run an extraordinary leadership center in the heart of Kabul. The center is providing free, non-formal education in literacy, science, computers, family planning and English for Afghan women and girls, as well as legal, psychosocial and counseling support. It is currently serving 150 and has the capacity to serve 250.
DONATE and help support this amazing grassroots initiative >
Longtime V-Day activist Fareba recently wrote to us about the center:
March 19th, 2014
Why the educational Center?
Considering the situation of Afghanistan in the past four decades, one realizes that no slogan, politics, donation, propaganda, war, foreign country and foreign troops can assist to achieve women’s rights and human rights, build a democratic political culture and achieve peace in a country as long as the people, especially the women, have no knowledge and education about their rights.
If women lack education, they become the most primary victims. They cannot rise, can not wake up, cannot cry for justice and cannot believe in themselves. They cannot trust themselves to rely on their power and cannot defend their basic rights. Thus, they obviously will not have any hope for the change. This ignorance resulted in psychiatric problems and hundreds of suicide cases among Afghan women. Particularly in a country such as Afghanistan, where either the laws work against women and do not protect them or if there are some laws they are not implemented practically and remain in paper.
Fundamentalist ideology and terror prevailed all over our chauvinistic society in the past decades which badly suppressed Afghan women consciousness. The Taliban and other anti-women groups used different tools, such as culture, traditions and even mis-used religion t oppress women because of their fear from women awareness and empowerment. So one of the first and important reasons for starting the educational center is to help the women to understand who they are, what is their responsibility, which kind of rights they have and what more rights they should have. It is not just enough to be woman. The important point is to be a conscious and aware woman. This is the reason we emphasize on education as the most sharpest weapon to make women aware of their power and convince them to rise for change and justice.
In addition, by getting education they can be self-confident and economically independent of men which is also very essential for a woman to break the chains of violence and ignorance.
We need an educational revolution in Afghanistan. Free education centers should be available in every city and village. Gun should be replaced by pen. That was great if the corrupt Afghan government had spent a fraction of the billions of dollars in aid in education.
About the Center
The education center is located in Kabul. It has been officially opened in 14th of February as part of the One Billion Rising. Now we have almost 150 admitted women and many more are coming for admission almost every day. Women of every age and every ethnic group are present in the classes. We mostly accept women of 15-year or above. Many children of different ages (8 to 12) contacted us and complained about the poor quality of education in public schools and asked for help with their studies. Unfortunately we refused to admit them as we do not have enough space and, particularly, the focus of the center is on older girls and women who could not go to school when they were in their school-going-age or suffered violence.
The center has different classes for different subjects.
– Through science classes (mathematics, biology, chemistry and physics) the center assists high-school-going girls (those who cannot afford to go to private science courses) to prepare for the university admission exam. Science is very important for girls and women in a country like Afghanistan. For instance, some men get married for the second or third time after blaming their first wife/wives for not being able to give them a son. And because of ignorance, the women also accept this accusation without knowing that it is actually men’s Y-chromosome that determines the sex of the baby not the woman.
– English and Computer classes is to help them to catch with today’s level of education. Without English you cannot use computer properly and without computer you cannot get in touch with outside world. Also, English is becoming essential to find a good job even in Afghanistan.
-Literacy courses are to enable them how to read, write and count.
-Psychiatric help in order to prevent suicide and mental illnesses and disorders.
-Legal seminars and consultancy is to make them aware of their legal right and show them the way to fight against domestic violence.
-Every four months a gynecologist will visit the center to give basic education on contraceptives and birth control methods.
Words of the students
Nag
My name is Najia. I am 18 years old. In our village the security situation was bad. My family didn’t allow me to attend school. We are very poor. In our home everyone paid attention to boys and they are sent to school. We girls are completely neglected. When I learnt that this center did not take money from us I enrolled myself here so I can learn how to read and write and understand basic English and computer.
Friba
My name is Friba. I am 20 years old and I live alone with my mother. We are very poor. My mother is a cleaner in a private school and I have come here to save myself from illiteracy. This way I can help my mother. I am very happy if I work hard. I know I will have a bright future.
Maheela
My name is Maleeha. I am 22 years old. I can’t attend school at this age but I want to learn something because I can’t find a job because I am an illiterate. This center will make my life better.
Frishta
My name is Frishta. When I saw the board of this center and learnt that there are some seminars related to psychiatric and mental health issues, I wrote my name. I am ashamed to say that I attempted to commit suicide several times because I have suffered a lot in my life during the war. I want to study and again become hopeful about life.
Alia
My name is Alia. I am subjected to violence by my husband. I came here to find a way out of this violence. May be if I learn something and financially get independent, it will help me to control my life. Also I want to join those classes that are giving legal consultancy.
DONATE and help support this amazing grassroots initiative >
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Following the historic Dalit Women’s Self-Respect March in India, activist Asha Kowtal of All India Dalit Mahila Adhikar Manch, a platform for Dalit Women to escalate our voices for justice, and Filmmaker and Dalit-American Thenmozhi Soundararajan are launching the first National series of conversations on the epidemic of caste-based sexual violence in India. With over 25% of 80,000 million of India Dalit Women reporting some act of sexual violence this movement is at critical mass.
The tour begins this Saturday in New York and will include stops in Washington DC, Boston, Princeton, San Jose, Berkeley, Akron, and San Francisco. The launch for this tour is in New York and is co-sponsored by South Asia Solidarity Initiative, V-Day, and the Ravidass Temple of Woodside.
LAUNCH DATE: Saturday, 12 April 2014
TIME: 5:00 PM
VENUE: Institute for Public Knowledge, 20 Cooper Square, 5th Floor, Room 503, Main Conference Room
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In the United States, April marks National Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) during which activists raise awareness about sexual violence and educate communities and individuals on how to prevent it.
Since this year’s campaign focuses on healthy sexuality and young people, V-Girls is taking action and we invite you to join us regardless of where in the world you are!
Follow our tumblr at v-girls.tumblr.com where we will be focusing on healthy relationships and consent. Each day we will be sharing new information and resources. We are joining the #30DaysOfSAMM instagram challenge put on by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center over at @emo_creature and encouraging for our organizers to get involved.
Contact vgirls@vday.org for more information.
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As women, men, and youth continue to rise for justice, the world is taking notice. From The Shorty Awards in NYC to the Hildegarde Award in the Philippines, One Billion Rising, coordinators, and v-activists are being recognized for their work to end violence against women and girls. Below are some highlights of the awards and honors that the campaign and activists have garnered, we are so proud to work alongside all of you!
One Billion Rising Finalist for Shorty Industry Award
One Billion Rising is a finalist for The Shorty Industry Award for Best Social Good Campaign! The Shorty Awards honor the talented agencies, brands, and industry leaders behind the best social media channels, campaigns, websites, games, and applications. Every year, millions of people visit the Shorty Awards site to support their favorite social media content creators by tweeting nominations.
We are especially proud to be included as a finalist because it proves yet again the power of local activists. Of all of the finalists for Best Social Good Campaign, One Billion Rising is the only in-house, non-agency initiative, and we could not be more proud of our incredible team and all of you who made One Billion Rising the biggest global mass action to end violence against women in history!
One Billion Rising Global Director Monique Wilson Accepts Hildegarde Award
On International Women’s Day (8 March), One Billion Rising Director Monique Wilson accepted the Hildegarde Lifetime Achievement Award for her lifelong commitment to advocating women’s rights in theater, media, and the performing arts.
Since 2007, St. Scholastica’s College-Manila, through its Mass Communication Department, has been staging the Hildegarde Awards for Women in Media and Communication. The award is named after the 12th century Benedictine saint, mystic, artist, environmentalist, and healer Hildegarde of Bingen, and was created to “honor and recognize the outstanding works of women.” The Hildegarde Awards is the only award-giving body that recognizes the role of women in contributing to Philippine media.
READ Monique’s inspiring acceptance speech >
V-Activist & Tasaru Ntomonok Initiative Founder Agnes Pareiyo Honored In Nairobi
On the eve of the International Women’s day, the first ever Inspirational Women Of The Year Awards took place at the Hilton Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya.
The award celebrated women from the 47 counties who have made impressive contributions towards the empowerment of women, girls, and families. The event was a culmination of a successful collaboration between the National Gender and Equality Commission, Mothers and Daughters, the Hilton Hotel, the Standard Group and the support of development partners UNFPA and UNDP.
Agnes is a long-time V-Day activist and Founder of Tasaru Ntomonok Initiative, a safe house and education program aimed at ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and early forced childhood marriages (ECM) in the Maasai community.
READ A Journey To Rising With V-Day – By Agnes Pareyio >
SEE full list of honorees >
One Billion Rising India Receives Karmaveer Puraskaar Award
On February 27 V-Day activist, theater director, and Emmy award winner Kaizaad Kotwal, and actor/producer Mahabanoo Mody-Kotwal accepted the “Dr. Verghese Kurien One Vision to Make A Difference in Our World Karmaveer Puraskar” award on behalf of V-Day and all One Billion Rising activists. The award is named after Dr. Verghese Kurien, a renowned activists in the struggle in India for independence and freedom for human rights for all. The prestigious Karmaveer Puraskaar awards are presented by iCONGO – The International Confederation of NGOs, and highlight “the spirit of outstanding human beings who effect drastic changes for the betterment of the society.” Over the years, Karmaveer awards have become a highly coveted civil society and people’s award.
One Billion Rising Coordinators Honored in Peru
Two of our regional coordinators – Carmen Castillo in Trujillo and Silvia Negron in Arequipa – were honored by local authorities for their outstanding work bringing One Billion Rising for Justice to their communities and raising awareness for local issues of violence against women and justice for survivors.
GABRIELA Awarded the Hildegarde Award for Outstanding Developmental 
Campaign in the Philippines for the One Billion Rising 2013 Campaign
GABRIELA is a nationwide alliance of more than 200 women’s organizations that cut across sectors and regions, plus chapters and support groups of Filipinas and non-Filipinas in various continents of the world now celebrating its 30th year. The GABRIELA National Alliance of Women – considered the most militant women’s movement in the Philippines, is a grassroots-based alliance of women all over the Philippines and Philippine groups around the world, seeking to wage a struggle for the liberation of all Filipino women and girls who are oppressed, exploited and abused. They organize women especially from the sectors of farmers, workers, urban poor and students, and vigorously campaign on women-specific issues such as women’s rights, discrimination, violence against women, women’s health and reproductive rights. GABRIELA is also at the forefront of national and international economic and political issues that affect women. At the same time, GABRIELA provides actual direct services for marginalized women through its National Office, provincial and regional centers and member institutions. GABRIELA led the One Billion Rising Philippines campaigns in the Philippines and within Filipino migrant communities in 22 countries in 2013 and 2014, forming a multi-sectoral task force group made up of women workers, urban poor women, fisher women, peasant women, students, comfort women of World War 2, teachers, church women, artists, and migrant women and their families – bringing to the forefront the issues of militarisation, state neglect, rapes by men in uniform and by men in authority, human and sex trafficking, forced migration, labor export policies, exploitation of women workers, indigenous women’s issues, women’s health, among many others. On October 28, 2000, the Gabriela Women’s Party was founded as an offshoot of GABRIELA, and GABRIELA leaders have been sitting as Congressional representatives since then – continuing the fight for the Filipina women’s demand for social justice, equality, freedom and democracy.
V-Day Executive Director Susan Celia Swan Honored by San Francisco Mayor Lee
On 25 March, V-Day Executive Director Susan Celia Swan was honored by San Francisco Mayor Edwin M. Lee at “Women Making History Celebration 2014.” The annual event, presented by The San Francisco Commission and Department on the Status of Women and the Friends of the Commission on the Status of Women, has been taking place since 1996 as part of Women’s History Month initiatives in San Francisco to recognize the contributions of women in the community.
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March 9, 2014
Dear V-Day Supporters,
I am writing to you today from Bukavu, a delicious morning – a sweater of heat, soft wind, and a sweeping melody of feisty birds. The smell of jasmine drifts and palms sway, all infused with the holy sound of church drums and singers in the distance.
Thanks to all of you for your glorious support and for being part of this community that is creating and spreading an oasis of transformation, healing, and love.
Both City of Joy and V-World Farm are thriving in ways we never could have imagined. Not only have we recently harvested seven tons of rice, but by the end of May we will have graduated more than 400 young women who have changed their own lives and are now impacting the lives of those in their communities. City of Joy has become a full fledged garden in all respects, the thick purple bougainvillea, the six foot roses, the compost pile host to a stunning garden of cabbage and carrots, 300 new chickens.
The women attending City of Joy are beautiful in their hearts, bodies, and spirits. Their energy is nothing short of radiant and electric. Their dance is the dance of those who returned from the edge, who have stepped into their bodies and vitality, released their shame and rage and hurt, and are now ready to seize the world.
The young women at City of Joy are hungry to learn and hungry to share what they have learned. You can see this in all their programs from literacy, English, and computers, to human rights, self-defense, and sex education. The women have also made a most wonderful CD of original songs and a stunning music video. There is much creativity and art emerging from City of Joy.
We also see the political impact of the program in the way girls are asking questions of the government, demanding their rights, rising for justice in the streets of Bukavu.
V-World Farm
Here’s what’s new: an incredible road that facilitates better access to both sides of the land. We just harvested seven tons of rice. We had 10 pigs a years ago, now we have 168 pigs. There are eight ponds full of leaping Tilapia. There are ten young women from City Of Joy who work the lands and all of the City of Joy residents learn agriculture at the farm. There are avocados, Macademia nuts, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, and orange trees.
The farm is now growing much of the food for City of Joy, reducing our budget. We are mid-construction on the administrative building and warehouse. Everything at V-World is recycled, all trees are turned into wood for building. We even make our own cement. We are incredibly grateful to the 11th Hour Project for making it all possible!
V-Men
For years now the V-Men movement has been evolving both in Congo and around the world. Dr. Mukwege, the Godfather of this movement, was awarded the inaugural V-Men award (established in his name) in 2008 at the Superdome in New Orleans. For months a core group of 20 men have been meeting in Bukavu, designing a vision of what this movement looks like and what it means to be a VMan. The selection of the 20 men was based on commitment and background. They were chosen by other local men who love and respect women. The group has advocates from a multitude of sectors including lawyers, teachers, doctors, a basketball referee, a psychologist, activists, military men and policeman.
At the first meeting the group discussed the origin of V-Men. They acknowledged the glaring gap in the feminist movement, which fights against violence against women. In order to bridge this gap, they decided they needed men to work in solidarity with women and share the same vision. It is clear that men have largely ignored their responsibility in the community, namely to help protect women, speak out against the atrocities, actively be equal partners, and support women to go further and become leaders. Being a V-Man means breaking out of what Tony Porter calls the “Man Box.” The V-Men group decided to create a declaration that calls forth other men to join. The statement aims to announce that there are Congolese men who are committed and open and ready to fight with women to end this violence.
We were all in awe to witness this historic launching in South Kivu of the V-Men’s movement and public reading of the proclamation, done in chorus by the 20 men, including Marcellin Cishambo Ruhoya, Governor of South Kivu, who has committed to sponsor a national gathering of men from all over the country to escalate the movement.
One of the founders, Patrick Lwaboshi said, “The idea is to spread the seeds of the movement all over the Congo and the world. I joined the movement after working by the side of women for 5 years and after discovering men can easily convince other men to end violence against women. Many of us men are tired and heart broken to keep hearing the stories of rape and violence.”
The launch on March 7, the eve of International Women’s Day, was wildly successful and many men joined the movement. It was picked up by press all over the world, motivating other men to do the same.
Mayo Doctors
I would like to take this moment to honor some amazing doctors, three of whom actually saved my own life when I was diagnosed with uterine cancer. Deborah Rhodes, Sean Dowdy, Eric Dozois, Emanuel Trabuco and nurse practitioner, Lois McGuire all traveled from the Mayo Clinic in the U.S. to Panzi Hospital and spent days performing operations and lectures with Dr. Mukwege. All of us at V-Day and City of Joy thank them for their amazing generosity and all the medical supplies they brought with them thanks to the Americares organization. We are overjoyed they came to dance with us at City of Joy on the last day of their visit.
A World of Thanks
And I want to thank every person who has done an event, organized a run, raised money at their high school, college, office, or church, by climbing mountains, throwing parties, or simply sending a check and telling their friends about our work. Your support and connection is crucial to our efforts. We cannot do this without you and we are forever grateful for your being with us and staying with us.
Thanks also to our incredible donors who are joined in community in the Circle of Joy (If you would like to join this circle, please let us know, contact development@vday.org). Their very generous donations and vision have allowed so much to happen.
My deepest love and gratitude to you all,
Eve
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On 7 March, a historic moment took place in South Kivu, DRC when a group of 20 men from the surrounding area launched V-Men Congo. Lead by Dr. Denis Mukwege, the “Godfather” of the International V-Men movement, this group of lawyers, teachers, doctors, athletes, activists, military men, and policeman, have been meeting in Bukavu for the past several months, designing a vision of what the movement looks like in Congo, and what it means to be a V-Man.
The launch event, held on the eve of International Women’s Day, included a public reading of the V-Men Congo proclamation, done in chorus by the 20 men including Marcellin Cishambo Ruhoya, Governor of South Kivu, who will go on to sponsor a national gathering of men from all over the country in August to escalate the movement.
STATEMENT OF V-MEN CONGO At The Launch Of Their Movement In Bukavu At BODEGA On 7 March 2014
We, members of the conceptual framework established as V-Men Congo, concerned with injustice which women are subjected to;
Are aware of the cries of women “where are men?”
Understand that women are our most precious resource, pillar of the family, the basic cell of the Nation, and backbone of the economy. Today, in the twenty-first century, despite their daily struggle, determination and courage, some customs and cultural practices of our retrograde patriarchal societies keep them in an inferior status of second-class citizens and modern slaves. We daily see them carrying heavy burdens, and suffer other degrading practices in our cities and countryside;
CONTINUE reading V-Men Congo Statement in:
English >
French >
V-MEN Congo Launch In The News
– RDC: Des Hommes Fondent Un Groupe Féministe (La Presse) >
– Congolese Men Launch Feminist Group (Independent Online) >
– Bukavu: Lancement Du Mouvement V-Men En Faveur De L’égalité Du Genre (Radio Okapi) >
– República Democrática Del Congo, “El Peor Lugar Del Mundo Para Ser Mujer” (Ultima Hora) >
– Kongolaismiehet Perustivat Feministiryhmän (Helsingin Sanomat) >
– Em Todo O Mundo Mulheres Se Mobilizam Para Defender Igualdade E Direitos (Yahoo Noticias Brasil) >
– Moki V DR Kongo Ustanovili Feministično Gibanje (Slovenian press Agency) >