By Juju Manubag-Empuerto
CEBU CITY, Feb 14 (PIA) -- The local
celebration of a global campaign to end violence against women culminates
today, Feb. 14, in Cebu City at the Ayala Center Cebu Terraces.
This ends the 15th anniversary of the "One Billion Rising" campaign
which will start at 3 p.m. until 5 p.m.
It will be an afternoon of video presentations, songs, solidarity messages, and
a dance where participants and the public are expected to join.
One Billion Rising is a global activist movement which began as a call to action
based on the growing statistics of 1 in 3 women on the planet will be beaten or
raped during her lifetime.
With a world population of seven billion, this adds up to more than one billion
women and girls.
Central Visayas posted the third highest number of VAW cases last year in the
country with 1,447 cases.
"While 1,447 cases seem to suggest that more women are coming out to
report violence, we know that hundreds of women in the region still suffer in
silence," according to a statement from the University of the Philippines
Cebu Gender and Development.
The statement added, "With the social stigma and shame associated with
rape and sexual abuse, and the lack of education on women's rights, the
majority of victims are still out there."
During today's culmination activity, statements of solidarity will be given by
the conveners, among them are Gabriela Women’s Party-Cebu, the University of
the Philippines Gender and Development (GAD) Office, Legal Alternatives for
Women, Inc. (LAW, Inc.), BISDAK Pride, Good Sheperd Welcome House, Antonio de
Oviedo Center, Nagkahiusang Kusog sa Estudyante (NKE-UP Cebu), Student Alliance
for Nationalism and Democracy-USC, and the Cebu Urban Poor Women’s League
(CUPWOL). (rmn/JSME/PIA-Cebu/UPCebu GAD)