WELCOME TO OUR 2023-2024
ANNUAL REPORT
This annual report is a reflection of the past year during which you have shown up for our movement in a stunning myriad of ways. We are filled with gratitude.
Coming out of its 25th anniversary, V-Day entered a year of profound political and social upheaval around the world, one that was rife with bloodshed and sorrow. Despite these unprecedented challenges, V-Day and One Billion Rising activists showed up for each other – with glimmers of hope, connection, and empathy – shattering traditions and norms with art, dialogue and creativity. They courageously rose for bodily autonomy, gender, climate, economic and racial justice, and against a wave of war, rightwing nationalism, white supremacy, colorism, fascism, xenophobia, misogyny, femicide, homophobia, transphobia, corporate greed and climate destruction, centering the voices and experiences of those on the peripheries of society. With passion and ingenuity, their survivor-led and focused grassroots antiviolence work on college campuses and in communities pushed V-Day into a new era of its work.
Our 26th year came at a pivotal time in the world where the most marginalized continue to suffer. The climate crisis continues to churn up devastating outcomes – from flooding and drought to the extinction of entire species and land theft from Indigenous populations. In the United States, gun violence, the continued attempts of the Right to dismantle reproductive and trans rights, and the immigration crisis placed an unprecedented amount of importance on the national election between Trump and Biden, one whose outcome will set into motion a series of decisions that will impact the world over for decades to come.
At the same time, from Sudan to Iran, Ukraine to Congo, people across the planet continue to fight for their basic human rights, dignity and peace. Perhaps more than any conflict in recent history, the October 7th attacks on Israel and the genocidal war on Gaza crystallized the lasting impact of colonialism on the present day. As the Palestinian death toll rises at an alarming rate, the world has had a front-row seat to the horrors of warfare through social media, perversely changing what it means to bear witness to war. Our activists have met this tragedy with characteristic love, calling for peace and solidarity from the very first days.