Edmund Rice Justice Bulletin

The recent One Billion Rising global activist movement to end violence against women and girls brought together hundreds of thousands of people in over 200 countries to call for change.

The global reach of the campaign through the media was counted in the billions. The demonstrations and actions highlighted the horrifying fact that one in three women on the planet (approximately one billion) will experience gender violence during their lifetime.

The event, the culmination of a year's mobilisation that began on 14 February 2012 (Valentine's Day), is the largest day of mass action ever to stop violence against women and girls.

Protesters gathered to express their outrage, and to strike, dance and rise to support an end to gender violence once and for all.

"A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women," is also the theme for the 2013 UN International Women's Day which is celebrated on March 8th each year.