DAVAO CITY, Philippines – More than a hundred participants from various sectors in the city danced to the song titled “Bangon na sa Rebolusyon” to signify their support to the launching of One Billion Rising campaign for next year.
The annual global campaign to end violence against women and children unveiled the sixth One Billion Rising (OBR) theme, “Solidarity: Rise! Resist! Unite!” on Monday, November 27 at the Rizal Park, Davao City.
OBR Global Director Monique Wilson delivers her speech during the launching of the 2018 One BIllion Rising Solidarity in Davao City.
In her speech, Monique Wilson, global director of OBR, stressed that the call for solidarity among the people continues as it plays a vital role in achieving a national and global systematic change.
“We can’t stop violence if we don’t show unity and fight against the issues of women,” Wilson said.
She pointed out that women and children are the most vulnerable and who have been the most affected sector especially in terms of poverty, forced labor and trafficking.
Lumad children watched the performers during the launching of the 6th One Billion Rising held at the Rizal Park, Davao City.
Wilson said the Lumad (indigenous peoples of Mindanao) are among the sectors who suffer the worst forms of exploitation which the global movement would also like to rise against.
A little girl smiles in front of the camera while doing the One Billion Rising hand sign.
Wilson said the figures of injustice against women speak for itself. She said 1 in 3 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.
She said women in the workforce, in indigenous communities, and among others are urged to rise against exploitation “as the reign of neo-liberalism has worsened social and economic conditions for women.”
The campaign also calls for people to rise for women’s equality, rights, safety, freedom, climate justice, education, free press and others.
“We need to rise because the fight is not yet done,” Wilson told Davao Today.
The OBR movement also aims to generate “creative and political resistance” among the people.
DAVAO RISERS. Members of Gabriela lead the dancing of “Bangon na sa Rebolusyon” during the launching of the 6th One Billion Rising at the Rizal Park in Davao City on Monday, November 27. Behind them are about a hundred participants from various sectors in the city.
Women’s groups from different barangays in the city dance to the “Bangon na sa Rebolusyon” song in support to the global campaign to end violence against women and children called One Billion Rising. The sixth edition of the global campaign was launched at the Rizal Park on Monday, November 27, 2017.
IN SOLIDARITY WITH WOMEN. A group of men dance with the women’s groups to show their support in calling to end violence against women and children at the launching of the sixth One Billion Rising at the Rizal Park in Davao City on Monday, November 27, 2017.
Wilson explained that the need to show resistance in various ways such as “artistic uprising” where different forms of art such as storytelling, theater performance, poetry and music, dance and film are used to call for action and escalate political consciousness.
As the movement reaches its sixth year, it continues to connect and reach out to more local communities, creating a united force to raise the call of economic, political and social change.
“We need a bigger force. The more people who will unite and demand for a particular issue, authorities or the people in power will immediately look into and respond to the people’s plea,” Wilson said. (davaotoday.com)
