Today in Taipei, Taiwan OBR activists, artists, women leaders, social workers, lawyers gathered for the first One Billion Rising Asia Summit. Women came from across the region from Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Mongolia, Japan, India, Philippines to share experiences, challenges and victories and to build a strategy and a platform for a regional One Billion Rising Revolution Campaign. It was a powerful first day where women learned of various oppressions and solutions enacted through prevention, intervention, legal reform, radical street theater, ongoing performances of the The Vagina Monologues and adaptations in countries where women developed theater pieces to tell their own stories.

The Summit is hosted by Garden of Hope Foundation in Taiwan. The feminist movement in Asia is dynamic, diverse, radical, vibrant and rooted in broad alliances and cross sectoral partnerships. The commitment to ending violence against women was palpable and rooted in many years of and activism and successful movement building. There was a energetic cross pollination of ideas, and common reasons for rising were shared. Tomorrow will focus on strengthening solidarity in the region and  developing a collective plan, statement and vision for this years One Billion Rising for Revolution in Asia.