Harnessing the momentum of the internationally recognized Valentines Day, the day that people worldwide declare their appreciation and affection towards important people in their lives, women activist worldwide joined together and with the world to dance as an act of solidarity, demonstrating to women the commonality of their struggles and their power in numbers and a refusal to accept violence against women and girls.
Cambodia was 1out of 197 countries participating in this campaign on 14th February 2013. CWC members, CYWA volunteers, and CYWEN members joined fellow women's rights activist in an around Phnom Penh to say NO to Violence during the One Billion Rising will be held in Cambodia as part of the global One Billion Rising campaign which invited ONE BILLION women and those who love them to WALK OUT, DANCE, RISE UP, and publicly DEMAND an End to Violence against Women.
'"We can consider ourselves a step above the rest of the world'" proclaimed Mrs Thida Khus , SILAKA Executive Director as she gave a highly charged motivational speech during the opening of the milestone event held at Freedom Park on what is internationally recognized as Valentines Day. A day where people all over the world show their appreciation and love for people in their lives. opening Considering Cambodia statistics on violence again women places the incidences at one in four women experiences violence in their lifetime, we should count ourselves fortunate, but the battle to combat the elimination of violence against women and girls is far from over.