The Retrospective Blog 5. One Billion Rising

The Retrospective Blog 5. One Billion Rising

Apr, 18 2020


~Welcome to ‘The Retrospective Blog’. Each week I’ll be looking at some of the amazing work The CCG has had the absolute pleasure and privilege to be involved in.

This week I’m turning my attention to One Billion Rising. Before I start I think it would be good to clarify one sentence which reaffirms the significance of the event:-

The campaign, which launched on Valentine’s Day 2012, began as a call to action based on the staggering statistic that 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.

The event has gone from strength to strength and it’s quite a simple concept yet as the previous paragraph states it creates a powerful message of unity and solidarity amongst so much hate.

It all starts with a trained dance instructor leading a series of politically minded females ( and males I must add) to a song which is all about empowerment and encouraging females to speak their mind, stand up and be proud of their female gender. There are a variety of moves throughout the piece and the press usually get involved too.

Preston has given access to both UCLAN and the Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre for the dancing to occur. But it’s not just Preston where this unique activity takes place. All around the world women and young girls come together to dance to the rhythm of the music.

Listed below is a number of venues where it all takes place:-

  • Police stations
  • Government offices
  • Places of worship
  • Education
  • Public places

Preston is fortunate to have World Salsa Dance Champion Phil Kalia and Salsa Northwest plus backing music for the dance routine.

Phil and his team of dance enthusiasts were back shaking their hips once again for the  seventh ‘One Billion Rising’  which took place just one  month shy of the beginning of the corona virus panademic on February 14th 2020.

It was held at The Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre and a positive team of support came out to encourage the dancers. This included  full press coverage, photographs and statements from visiting VIPs and colleagues.

UCLAN and the CCGUK members have been involved in the  event, which is the biggest mass action in human history, since 2013 in a show of solidarity and support with  Preston gathering growing in popularity every year.

Preston alone has  over 4,000 women and girls aged between 16 and 59 who have suffered from domestic violence in the past year.

One Billion Rising is the biggest mass action to end violence against women (cisgender, transgender, and those who hold fluid identities that are subject to gender-based violence) in human history.

In whatever form it may return (perhaps in a virtual one) we, at The CCG are determined to keep staging this important event. If change can occur in one place, it has the power to change the entire world.

^Alex Ashworth CCG UK Blogger.