One Billion Rising is the biggest mass action to end violence against women in human history. This campaign started in 2012 and occurs annually on Valentine's Day. Many activities are planned, including flash mobs, and again this year, the American Women's Club of The Hague participated. Melissa Ryder had a rehearsal at the clubhouse for members to learn the dance — we had lots of laughter and fun. Then on Valentine's Day — a beautiful sunny day — we (dressed in hot pink and red) joined the Amsterdam American Women's Club for the flash mob in Rembrandt Square in Amsterdam. So much fun with great energy — the Amsterdam club did a great job organizing. When we were done, we noticed the time and decided to try to make it to the flash mob in Leiden (last year, club members danced with Webster University in Leiden). We caught the right train and ran to the location in Leiden. We made it and joined them in their dance! Again, lots of fun energy and laughs. It was so empowering and a wonderful experience. We all plan to do it again next year and hope more club members can join us! Submitted by Julie Mowat, AWC The Hague 
The AWC Amsterdam organized a flash mob on Valentine's Day for One Billion Rising at Rembrandtplein, which is a popular tourist area. Moms brought daughters, husbands turned out and we had members join us from AWC The Hague. All told about 30 people, including spectators, participated, but next year we have plans to make it bigger! Submitted by Lauren Mescon, AWC Amsterdam
One Billion Rising coincides with V-Day, a global activist movement to end violence against women and girls. One of the HR Team’s recommendations for V-Day was to view the film City of Joy. The film tells the story of “a transformational leadership community for women survivors of violence” in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a war-plagued region. City of Joy was created by Eve Ensler, founder of V-Day and One Billion Rising; activist Christine Schuler Deshryver, City of Joy’s director; and Dr. Denis Mukwege, founder of the Panzi Hospital and co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.
Dr. Mukwege shared the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize with Nadia Murad, a young Iraqi woman who had been repeatedly beaten and raped while held prisoner by ISIS, “for their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict." Born in Bukavu, Belgian Congo (now Democratic Republic of the Congo), he is a gynecologist and human rights activist. According to his foundation's website, Dr. Mukwege “has become the world’s leading specialist in the treatment of wartime sexual violence and a global campaigner against the use of rape as a weapon of war.” View or read his Nobel lecture.
