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Women's rights/Equal opportunities − 14-02-2013 - 09:08. Several MEPs already joined a dance on 29 January ahead of One Billion Rising Day to show they oppose violence against womenFebruary 14 is traditionally a day dedicated to heart-shaped boxes of chocolate and candle-lit dinners, but to women rights defenders it's much more than that.
They chose Valentine's Day to raise awareness about global violence against women as statistics reveal that one in three women will be raped or beaten during her lifetime. On One Billion Rising Day several women's rights groups call on people to dance to show they are against the violence. In Brussels hey will be joined by several MEPs.
Mikael Gustafsson, a Swedish member of the GUE/NGL group who is the chairman of the EP's women's rights committee, explained why he would be taking part. "We need action, not just words. It's time we allocate money and resources to fight against gender-based violence. As a man and a feminist I have to do all I can to highlight this issue and so on 14 February, I will rise and dance!"
