“I am one of one billion and I am rising for justice”

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.

: My existence owes to a woman. I’m a vanguard of her honour

: Let’s not neglect women anymore, instead let’s unite to work towards development

: Violence against women is rather an act of cowardice

: Regardless of gender, all kinds of violence must be stopped.

: A promise of all women and men to end violence against women

: My allegiance lies with the voice of this generation. May all forms violence against women stop.

: Mother is the true visage of a woman. A mother’s rights are women’s rights.

: We respect our women because they are the light and treasure of our home.

: Everyone must awaken their ethical values to oppose violence against women and girls

: 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.

: Men should come forward to prevent violence against women

: Since I am a woman, I oppose violence against women.

: Demolish the sexual violence against girls and women and protect them from the sexual transmitted infections such as AIDS

: Because violence against women is a disgusting act

: Violence prevents human being from development. Let’s stop all kinds of violence.

: Women too are responsible in nurturing the essence of civilisation. I plea so that violence ceases against her

: I haven’t learnt to respect you, then how do I call myself civilised?

: I want to establish a society free from violence

: Let the sound of protest against violence echo from every family

: ‘Mother’, ‘woman’, I respect them all.

: Freeing girls and women from all the dominant activities against them and boost their self-confidence

: I’ve pondered and realised that I see my mother in you

: Respect women and develop a violence-free environment

: I urge people to respect women and girls. Let’s be more earnest and raise religious awareness.

: We all pledge to stop violence against women

: Violence against women is a human rights violation. The effort to end violence against women becomes an individual awareness-building of men.

: If the rights of women are undermined today, the nation shall drown in tears

: I refuse to see the fake smiles on my mother’s and sister’s faces which masks suppressed tears

: We will protect who, preserve the world with Love and teach the world that how to smile through the pain

: “The hand that cradles a child is reign”. Children and women are our assets. Therefore, we have to protect them

: As a human being, I pledge to end violence against all humans.

: “Let’s learn respecting women, not disdaining them”

: Men have to change to prevent any violence against women

: First a human, then a woman. I oppose violence against all human beings.

: 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!

: The hallmark of a courageous man is that of raising a violence-free family.

: I want equality, support and friendship – not violence

: Let all places be safe for women.

: 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