On February 14, women from all over the world will unite in a dance of resistance against gender-based violence.

This year, Ukrainian women will join the initiative. They will dance online and offline to show strength, courage, and the desire for freedom and equal rights for women and men around the world.

“1 in 3 women around the world will be beaten or raped in their lifetime. That’s one billion women and girls. Every February, we rise to show our local communities and the world what one billion looks like, and to shine a light on the rampant impunity and injustice that survivors often face,” the initiative’s website says.

One Billion Rising is the largest mass initiative in human history to end violence against women. It began 11 years ago on Valentine’s Day 2012 as a call to action against violence based on horrific statistics.

The protest is expressed in the form of dance, which symbolizes delight and unity. Women from all over the world demonstrate their resilience in the face of violence and injustice. Moving to the beat, the participants of the action free themselves from shame and fear and create a new consciousness – where cruelty will be opposed until it becomes unthinkable.

The theme of this year’s action is the struggle for freedom “from patriarchy, capitalism, impunity, poverty, oppression, division, exploitation, shame, control, individualism, greed and violence.”