Western MA Rising

Western MA Rising event advocates for end to domestic violence One Billion Rising is a global event created by Eve Ensler, a writer and founder of V-Day, a nonprofit organization that seeks to bring an end to domestic violence.

One Billion Voices Cannot Be Ignored
Karen Cavanaugh, Executive Director
Womanshelter/Companeras

On February 14, Womanshelter/Companeras will proudly join Western MA Rising, part of a global effort to stop violence against women.

In the United States of America, nearly 25 million women will experience violence in their lifetime…25 million women!
I have often wondered what would happen in this country if any one cause so horrifically affected 25 million of our citizens. It is a rhetorical question of course. No doubt people would panic, elected officials would open the coffers and limitless resources would be available to find a cure or causation. The airwaves would be flooded with public service announcements about prevention and where to go for help. If a singular disease struck every 9 to 12 seconds, as does domestic violence, it would certainly be labeled an epidemic. There would be outrage if the response to such an epidemic did not match the sheer enormity of such a crisis.

Violence against women is not a disease, but it is a public health crisis and it is epidemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control, violence against women “is generally purposeful, designed to coerce, entrap, and subordinate victims and to engender fear in them.” Every day, Womanshelter advocates receive calls from women wanting to know how they can flee the violence being perpetrated against them. They are individual calls made to individual domestic violence programs. What will make February 14, 2013 so powerful, is that the voices of individuals will join to become thousands in Western MA Rising and those voices will unite to become One Billion Rising worldwide, where violence against women is estimated to be 1 in 3.

Certainly, One Billion voices cannot be ignored. It is not too late to add yours.

LEARN the dance moves to the One Billion Rising anthem, "Break the Chain." Then, SHOW UP at a Rising near you and DANCE!

How To: Debbie Allen Teaches Break the Chain Dance The iconic choreographer shows us how to do the dance depicted in the BREAK THE CHAIN Anthem for ONE BILLION RISING. JOIN US! http://onebillionrising.org

Join 13,000+ organizations among 176 countries.

Valentine's Day rally to raise awareness of violence against women | WWLP.com The fight to stop violence against women will be highlighted around the world on Valentine’s Day this year, and organizers are hoping that there will be a strong turnout for events being held that day right here in western Massachusetts.