European Parliament performs "vagina monologues" as cross-party call to end violence against women

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EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PERFORMS "THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES" AS A CROSS-PARTY CALL TO ACTION TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS

Today in the European Parliament, nine MEPs¹ are joining V-Day founder/Tony award winning playwright Eve Ensler in a very special and unique performance of « The Vagina Monologues » to raise public and EU decision makers' awareness on the importance to put an end to violence against women and girls in Europe and around the world.

"I am very moved and proud to join with women Members of the European Parliament who are standing with women across Europe and the world and putting their vision, votes, hearts and vaginas on the line to end violence against women and girls", said Eve Ensler, founder of V-Day. "Their participation in V-Day signals the beginning of the rising²."

This performance is part of V-Day's 2012 season of events and campaigns, joining over 1,850 colleges and communities around the world that will host V-Day benefit events, raising funds and awareness for local groups working to end the violence. This year events are also launching a year-long global campaign: ONE BILLION RISING. V-Day's most ambitious campaign yet, ONE BILLION RISING will culminate on February 14, 2013, V-Day's 15th anniversary, when women, activists, and concerned citizens across the world will organize community gatherings to express their outrage, demand change, strike, and dance in defiance of the injustices they have suffered.

In Europe, 45% of women have suffered from violence that includes sexual abuse, domestic violence, genital mutilation, sexual harassment in the workplace or at the college and university, rape, forced sterilisation, and trafficking for sexual exploitation³. The effects of this widespread violence against women affect not only the survivors and their families; it has a profound impact on the EU's economy. Today, domestic violence alone costs the EU an estimated 16 billion Euros per year, amounting to 1 million Euros every half hour. If the budgets for prevention of this violence were increased by just 1 Euro, it could save 87 Euro in total costs of dealing with the violence.

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http://www.vday.org/node/2866

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