In 2012, One Billion Rising in Bangladesh initiated their unanimity movement with the One Billion Rising (OBR) Global Movement. The movement was established by Eve Ensler, after a United Nations (UN) statistics revealed that one in three women across the world is beaten or raped during her lifetime, which cumulates to one billion women and girls. Eve Ensler is an American playwright, performer, feminist, and activist, widely known for her play “The Vagina Monologues.”
Since then, every February through March 8, thousands of risings take place in hundreds of countries worldwide including Bangladesh, within local communities – to show the world what one billion looks like, and shine a light on the rampant impunity and injustice that survivors of various forms of violence face.
OBR aims to create a new kind of consciousness – one where violence will be resisted until it is unthinkable. People around the globe have been showing their support by rising through dance to express rage against injustices, and the power of global unity and collective action for them. OBR Bangladesh has also been a part of it, as they organise campaigns against violence against women, dance to express joy and community and celebrate the fact that together, violence can be defeated.
Every year they follow a theme, under which they organise all the campaigns, and this year it is called “The Call for Revolution”. Through this, they are trying to reach the youth of the country, as they believe that with the youth’s wonderful enthusiasm and spontaneous power to change, they can make this world a better place for all.
Through their collective efforts in Bangladesh, they are trying to mobilise, engage, awaken, and join people worldwide to end violence against women. They consider their issue relegated not only to a certain country, tribe, class, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or religion, but as a patriarchal mandate which is present in every culture of the world.
Keeping this in mind, OBR began their journey this year from Bangladesh. A three-day programme has been organised, and the curators interacted with the media yesterday, on the first day of the event, and it was called “Meet The Press.”
The event started with a short film on their movement throughout the world. Feminists and activists like Khushi Kabir, Eve Ensler, Monique Wilson, Fouzia Khandaker, Nastasia Paul-Gera, and Farah Kabir were present at the conference, who shed some light on how this movement creates a foundation for solidarity among different cultures and countries.
The panellists talked about how they have been encouraging the indigenous community by taking part in their programme, through dance and music which have positive spirit and messages. The discussions were associated with issues in different countries such a Maldives and Sri Lanka, in Southeast Asia.
Eve Ensler and Monique Wilson are the main coordinators behind the movement, they believe that art and dance allow people to feel, and not think. With this rising, they aim to create a radical shift in consciousness among societies. While addressing the global human issue, both of them stated that everyone has their own space and a voice through which they can stand against violence and create a difference.
In the upcoming days of the OBR rising, the launching of OBR Bangladesh will be held with the presence of Eve Ensler and Monique Wilson respectively, the founder and co-founder of One Billion Rising. Moreover, organising campaigns, awareness activities, and flash mob related to violence against women and girls will be held till February 14, 2016.