One Billion Rising in Northern region

date: 12 February 2013

embargo: for immediate release

One Billion Rising in Northern region

On Thursday 14^th February three of the major cities in the north east (Newcastle, Sunderland and Durham) are set to become part of the global One Billion Rising movement. Events will be happening throughout the day across the whole of the region, country, and indeed the world, to raise awareness of the prevalence of violence against women and demand an end to it.

1 in 3 women in the world will be either beaten or raped in her lifetime, which equates to 1 billion women. The One Billion Rising movement is about representing these women and rising up to say that this staggering number of women being abused and violated is not acceptable and will not be tolerated.

There will be a host of activities, stalls and performances between the three sites, (starting at 12.00pm in the Marketplace in Durham) to educate, inform and entertain. Alongside this, there will also be representatives of the key organisations in the North East who provide services that support women, from Rape Crisis to the White Ribbon campaign, a counsellor and a martial arts organisation who offer free self defence classes.

Subsequent events will be held at Grey's Monument in Newcastle between 4.30pm and 5.30pm and also at Chesters in Sunderland at 6.00pm where participants will be performing the official dance to One Billion Rising's chosen song, Break the Chain.

Clare Williams, Chair of the Northern TUC Women's Group said: 'I am really glad that we have a One Billion Rising event in our region and it is something that everyone, not just women, should support. It beggars belief that in the 21^st century one in three women will be subjected to serious violence simply because of their gender. The only way to combat this atrocity is to take a united stand and hopefully the one billion rising will become seven times that and we can make these frightening statistics a thing of the past.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

For more information on the One Billion Rising movement and each of the events please visit: http://onebillionrising.org/

- Northern TUC press releases www.tuc.org.uk/northern national releases www.tuc.org.uk and www.twitter.com/tucnews

- Register for the TUC's press extranet: a service exclusive to journalists wanting to access pre-embargo releases and reports www.tuc.org.uk/pressextranet

- For TUC advice and information on the world of work www.workSMART.org.uk

Media contacts:

Kevin Rowan, Regional Secretary T: 0191 232 3175 M: 07766250074 E: krowan@tuc.org.uk

Clare Williams, Chair of Northern TUC's Women's Group E: C.Williams4@unison.co.uk