LUCINDA EVANS ( SOUTH AFRICA ): “ Dance for us as a People who lived for years enslaved , means FREEDOM . V-DAY songs resonate with so much that we are facing on a daily basis .
V-CAMPAIGN
VOICES
AFIA WALKING TREE ( JAMAICA ): “ For women and girls in Jamaica , the drum has been outlawed , until OBR brought the drum front and center in all the spaces women and girls occupy . To bring back the drum , the dance , and allowing women and girls to enjoy new muscles to express , share and live into their radical self-care is empowerment freedom and change .”
JOAN SALVADOR ( PHILIPPINES ): “ Art and activism , dance in particular , compel the public to look into the most difficult issues and encourages them to participate in taking on these issues through whatever form they can . Since OBR is all year round in the Philippines with GABRIELA and our OBR task force groups , we are able to keep women ’ s issues in the consciousness of the public , express the inadequacy of our government in addressing these issues or the role of the government in worsening the situation of women , and encouraging people to build alternatives .”
KAMLA BHASIN ( INDIA ): “ OBR brings together a diverse group under one umbrella to strongly raise their collective voice against violence against women . A united banner provides them a large platform that would be very difficult to build individually . OBR platform is a wonderful and necessary space for the amplification of the voices of grassroots communities in the forms of dance , music and theatre . Art enables the marginalized voices to fully express violence and discrimination , but also messages of peace , justice and equality .”