We wanted to share with you a photo taken yesterday morning at Univision, a television station in San Francisco. Silvia Vasquez-Lavado  a native Peruvian, E-Bay Executive, Mountaineer, survivor, DJ, One Billion Rising activist, and V-Day supporter was interviewed for Al Despertar, a Spanish language morning news show, about her passion for One Billion Rising and her deep commitment to ending violence against women and girls. Silvia first came connected to V-Day during a solidarity trip to the DRC and witnessing the groundwork of the incredible City of Joy.

Silvia is also an avid adventurer and mountaineer and is in the process of climbing the “seven summits”, the highest mountains in each of the continents and along the way raising awareness for girls (and boys) who have been victims of sexual abuse. In her own words

“As a native Peruvian Sexual violence survivor I want to raise awareness for girls that have been molested at a young age and who have had their own voices cut given the atrocity of their experience.  I have seen many of these girls are falling to victim of sexual prostitution and human trafficking given their own shaming and lack of self-love. As a survivor of this abuse and through my climbing I have found a way to find my own strength and healing hence want to share my story as a way to empower these survivors.”

RISE, RELEASE, DANCE and DEMAND JUSTICE!