Hundreds gather to participate in One Billion Rising in Delhi

As the global One Billion Rising (OBR) campaign for the rights of women entered its fourth year, hundreds of people gathered here on Sunday to support the cause by singing and dancing.

"Delhi has been buzzing with OBR activities like screening of films, street theatre, music, discussions, debates, peace walks, bike rally and 'gender mela' for more than a month now," said Kamla Bhasin, OBR South Asia coordinator.

On Sunday, a number of college and school students sang, danced and performed stage plays in Connaught Place (Rajiv Chowk) to raise awareness about the cause. More notably, children from Kalyanpuri Basti, an economically disadvantaged neighbourhood in the city, staged a street play on the theme of violence against women.

"We are celebrating love, harmony. OBR is a synergy; it is a sangam (confluence) of genders, nations, organisations. We are rising also to protect Mother Nature, and all marginalised groups, she added.

Launched on February 14, 2013, One Billion Rising is a global mass action to end violence against women. It began as a call to action based on the statistics that one in three women in the world is beaten or raped during her lifetime.

With the world population at seven billion, this adds up to more than one billion women and girls.

"One Billion Rising is a space where there is multiple hues of protests and also multiple hues of solidarity; it includes youth beyond universities, said Bijayalakshmi Nanda, a lecturer at Miranda House college of the Delhi University.