One Billion Rising activists in Yogya to dance against rape and violence

Kompas.com – February 13, 2013
One Billion Rising march through Yogyakarta city shopping district
One Billion Rising march through Yogyakarta city shopping district

Wijaya Kusuma, Yogyakarta – One Billion Rising (OBR) rising activist in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta (Yogya) will hold a dance action as a form of opposition to and concern over the widespread acts of violence and rape against women.

The action, which is also to commemorate the 15th Vagina Day, will be held along the length of the Jl. Malioboro shopping district in the centre of the city

OBR itself was first conceived by the author of a dramatic theater titled the Vagina Monologues, Eva Ensier in 1998 as a stand against victims of rape and violence against women.

“Silence is not the right choice when you see the high number of rapes and cases of violence against women. It is because of this that we will hold the action in the context of commemorating Vagina Day tomorrow on February 14. This commemoration is an expression of our condemnation of violence against women”, said Yogyakarta OBR chairperson Ryan Kobari on Wednesday February 13.

In commemorating Vagina Day, OBR Yogyakarta is inviting all elements of society to dance and act in solidarity with the victims of sexual violence. The dance, which has been given the title “Rally V-Dance”, will be held between 3-4.45pm along Jl. Malioboro, starting at the Inna Garuda Hotel and ending at the zero kilometer point at the central post office.

“We invite everyone who cares to rise up and demand an end to rape and violence against women by dancing along the length of Jl. Malioboro”, she explained.

Kobari explained further that OBR Yogyakarta is part of a movement that will hold similar actions in 210 countries around the world. “Dancing together is evidence that all individuals have authority over themselves, and can work together to fight violence”, she asserted.

The commemoration of Vagina Day this year will reject violence against women and children that is considered something preordained. “Rape and violence are not preordained! We refuse to be silent”, asserted Kobari.

[Tolak Perkosaan dengan Menari Bersama – Kompas.com. Rabu, 13 Februari 2013. Translated by James Balowski.]