FROM STAFF REPORTS

MONTEVALLO – SafeHouse of Shelby County will join with activists around the world Feb. 14 at the University of Montevallo for One Billion Rising, the global activist movement to end violence against women and girls.

One Billion Rising began as a call to action based on the statistic that one in three women on the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime, according to a press release from SafeHouse. With the world population at 7 billion, this adds up to more than one billion women and girls. V-Day is a global activist movement that raises funds and awareness to end violence against women and girls.

“When we started V-Day 14 years ago, we had the outrageous idea that we could end violence against women,” said Eve Ensler, founder of V-Day, in the release. “Now, we are both stunned and thrilled to see that this global action is truly escalating and gaining force, with union workers, parliament members, celebrities and women of all backgrounds coming forward to join the campaign. When we come together on February 14, 2013 to demand an end to violence against women and girls, it will be a truly global voice that will rise up.”

Central Alabama community members and students are invited to join this free event at Anna Irvin Hall on the University of Montevallo’s campus at 2 p.m. to dance in protest of violence against women and girls.

For more information about the SafeHouse One Billion Rising event at University of Montevallo, visit Facebook.com and search “SafeHouse of Shelby County.” For more information about the One Billion Rising movement, visit Onebillionrising.org.