Local advocates join worldwide movement to end domestic violence

Date: 2/7/2013

By G. Michael Dobbs

news@thereminder.com

SPRINGFIELD — Valentine's Day provides one meaning for Feb. 14, but another event will add a second meaning to the day.

Advocates for women and children who have suffered domestic violence will gather at Tower Square on Main Street to take part in Rise Up Western Massachusetts, a local observation of One Billion Rising, the world-wide movement to end violence against women and girls.

Karen Cavanaugh, the executive director of Womanshelter/Companeros in Holyoke, told Reminder Publications the level of domestic violence is "an epidemic." Jane Doe Inc., a statewide coalition on domestic violence, noted that were 20 deaths in the Commonwealth from domestic violence in 2012, five of them happening in Hampshire and Hampden Counties.

The organization also reported that 32 percent of women in the state reported experiencing a rape in their lifetime and 42 percent of women said they experience some form of sexual violence. One in five public high school students in the state have said they have been the objects of physical or sexual violence while on a date.

One Billion Rising is an event sponsored by V-Day, an organization funded by performances of founder Eve Ensler's "The Vagina Monologues."

The local free event will take place at noon at the Center Court of Tower Square and will be hosted by Kathy Tobin, formerly of WGGB and now the development director for the Friends of the Homeless. There will be performances by Evelyn Harris of Sweet Honey in the Rock, Valley Women's Martial Arts, DJ Brian Nicks and The Small Planet Dancers.

On sale at the event will be a specially designed pin with the proceeds donated to a domestic violence prevention program.

Cavanaugh said that state funding of domestic violence programs have stayed "static," and does not know what will happen in the next round of budget conferences.

Last year, Congress did not extend the Violence Against Women Act with members of the House of Representatives voicing opposition to language that would broaden the bill to include protection for Native Americans, gays and lesbians. The Senate is took up its own version of the bill this week.

Cavanaugh called the failure to reauthorize the bill "outrageous."

She added, "It's astonishing to me that 25 million women in the United States of America will be victims of violence in their lifetime."

Organizations such as hers have to "grovel for funding," she said.

"We have to recognize this is the epidemic that it is," Cavanaugh said.

The event came to Springfield when businesswoman Kate Kane asked Nancy Urbschat of Pro Springfield Media to help produce it.

Kane said, "I knew I wanted to do something big in the region's largest city — something would engage woman and those who love them, across communities. That's exactly what's happening — an exciting collaborative effort."

For more information on One Billion Rising go to www.onebillionrising.org