With the progress we are making in development, one would think that violence against women would by now be a thing of the past. On the contrary, it is proving to be an epidemic. One in three women will experience violence during her life simply because she’s female – that amounts to one billion women in the world. One Billion Rising is a global campaign, created by American playwright and feminist Eve Ensler, to call for an end to violence against women and girls.
This year’s theme is One Billion Rising for Justice and as an institution, BRAC pledges its support to the cause. Violence and abuse may manifest itself differently from culture to culture, but it is a universal issue. We cannot allow violence against women to be normalised just because it is prevalent.
Our colleagues across the world have rallied together to declare why they believe in ending violence against women and girls. Their messages are powerful and simple.
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They are women- our mothers, aunties and sisters. So we should respect them and care for them.
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As farmland became fertile, man dug the plough,
Woman planted the sapling/seeds and made it lush green,
Man carries the plough, woman bears the water,
The union of water and soil manifests the crop,
Into paddy adorned in golden husk
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I haven’t learnt to respect you, then how do I call myself civilised?
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I refuse to see the fake smiles on my mother’s and sister’s faces which masks suppressed tears
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Violence against women is more than the marks of bruises and scars. It is very painful to be abused by someone that you love and think loves you in return. Respect the rights of women!
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First a human, then a woman. I oppose violence against all human beings.
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I urge people to respect women and girls. Let’s be more earnest and raise religious awareness.
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Let all places be safe for women.
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I’ve pondered and realised that I see my mother in you
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Freeing girls and women from all the dominant activities against them and boost their self-confidence
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I want to establish a society free from violence
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Since I am a woman, I oppose violence against women.
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‘Mother’, ‘woman’, I respect them all.
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A promise of all women and men to end violence against women
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We all pledge to stop violence against women
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Let the sound of protest against violence echo from every family
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We respect our women because they are the light and treasure of our home.
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Violence against women is a human rights violation. The effort to end violence against women becomes an individual awareness-building of men.
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Women too are responsible in nurturing the essence of civilisation. I plea so that violence ceases against her
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Demolish the sexual violence against girls and women and protect them from the sexual transmitted infections such as AIDS
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Let’s not neglect women anymore, instead let’s unite to work towards development
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I declare violence to be unacceptable in order to build a beautiful world for women
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My existence owes to a woman. I’m a vanguard of her honour
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Violence against women is rather an act of cowardice
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To prevent all forms of violence against women, the state has to ensure a structured legal policy and its absolute implementation. Simultaneously, positive values should be instilled.
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We will protect who, preserve the world with Love and teach the world that how to smile through the pain
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Regardless of gender, all kinds of violence must be stopped.
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“The hand that cradles a child is reign”. Children and women are our assets. Therefore, we have to protect them
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“Let’s learn respecting women, not disdaining them”
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Because violence against women is a disgusting act
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Respect women and develop a violence-free environment
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As a human being, I pledge to end violence against all humans.
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Men should come forward to prevent violence against women
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Mother is the true visage of a woman. A mother’s rights are women’s rights.
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Everyone must awaken their ethical values to oppose violence against women and girls
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Men have to change to prevent any violence against women
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If the rights of women are undermined today, the nation shall drown in tears
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The hallmark of a courageous man is that of raising a violence-free family.
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I want equality, support and friendship – not violence
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My allegiance lies with the voice of this generation. May all forms violence against women stop.
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Violence prevents human being from development. Let’s stop all kinds of violence.
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I not only want my son, but also my daughter to be safe on the streets.
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