“Arise; Shine! For your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.” – Isaiah 60:1

Today is V-Day, and as many couples celebrate their love today with dates, roses, teddy bears, and chocolates, many others around the world are rising today for JUSTICE. They are rising for all the women around the world who will or have been sexually or physically abused (one in three women will have been raped or abused – physically, sexually, and/or emotionally – in their lifetime!)

They are rising as survivors to raise their voices and share their unheard stories.

They are rising as friends, family, and neighbors who stand alongside their loved ones who have been abused.

They are rising as fellow members of the human race who stand in solidarity with all victims of abuse because no one should be robbed of their humanity in this way.

Because the power to end violence comes when people join together and stand.

As ONEBILLIONRISINGFORJUSTICE states on it’s website:

“Our stories have been buried, denied, erased, altered, and minimized by patriarchal systems that allow impunity to reign. Justice begins when we speak, release, and acknowledge the truth in solidarity and community. ONE BILLION RISING FOR JUSTICE is an invitation to break free from confinement, obligation, shame, guilt, grief, pain, humiliation, rage, and bondage.

The campaign is a recognition that we cannot end violence against women without looking at the intersection of poverty, racism, war, the plunder of the environment, capitalism, imperialism, and patriarchy. Impunity lives at the heart of these interlocking forces.

It is a call to bring on revolutionary justice.”

I rise with so many others around the world today as a sister, an aunt, a godmother, and a pastor with children and youth because ALL girls and women should be free to live fully as they were created to live and be.

Will you join the movement and rise up, too?

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Related Articles:

In which 21 things that shouldn’t be said to sexual abuse victims (on sarahbessey.com)

Four Honest Questions about Sexual Abuse’s Aftermath (on deeperstory.com)

Having a Plan (on educationonviolence)

Signs of Emotional Abuse (on psychcentral.com)

Why I don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day (one of my earlier posts)