STUDENTS in York are calling on local residents to join them in a bid to stamp out violence towards women.

Performance students from York St John University will lead a demonstration in York city centre next week with people invited to join them as part of the national One Billion Rising event.

One Billion Rising events are planned across the country as part of the largest day of action in the history of V-Day, the global activist movement to end violence against women and girls.

The York event will take place at noon on Thursday, February 14, V-Day’s 15th anniversary, when York St John students, staff and the local community will come together in a collective group action, taking ten minutes to rise slowly from lying to standing in St Sampson’s Square.

Dr Fiona Thompson, dean of the faculty of arts at St John, said: “During One Billion Rising, we will be joining activists, writers, thinkers, celebrities, and women and men across the world as we express outrage, we demand change and we rise in defiance of the injustices women suffer, demanding an end at last to violence against women.

“Our students are very passionate about raising awareness and demanding an end to this violence. We would love it if the York community could join us to show their support, either by taking part in the rise or just coming along to watch.”

One Billion Rising began as a call to action based on the statistic that one in three women on the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime. With the world population at seven billion, this adds up to more than one billion women and girls.

To find out more and to register to rise with the York St John University students visit http://onebillionrisinginyork.eventbrite.co.uk