On February 14, several different groups in Lewiston-Auburn will join with activists around the world for “One Billion Rising,” the largest day of action in the history of V-Day, the global activist movement to end violence against women and girls.

A collaboration of local agencies will host events at noon at USM-LA College; at 3 p.m. in the Lewiston Public Library; at 5 p.m. at Bates College; and at 5:45 p.m. at Shaw’s in Auburn.

That collaboration includes the YWCA, Safe Voices, The Center for Wisdom’s Women, V-Day aUbUrn, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Services, United Somali Women of Maine and Girl Power Fitness. Community members are invited to actively participate or attend and observe as they collectively rise together to end violence against women and girls.

Anyone interested in participating in this exciting event can contact Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Services at 784-5272 for more details. To learn more about V-Day activities in Androscoggin County, visit onebillionrising.org and search for local events.

From 2:30 to 4pm on that day, United Somali Women of Maine will host One Billion Rising at the Lewiston Public Library. Members of the community are invited to come out and support the women of the world and rise against the atrocity of violence in their honor. For more information about this event, contact United Somali Women of Maine at 753-0061.

Beginning at 4:30, in the Underground of 280 College St., Bates College will host a Rising, which includes a capella performances, music, pledges, photos and activities and a fun surprise event.

One Billion Rising began as a call to action based on the staggering statistic that 1 in 3 women on the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime. With the world population at 7 billion, this adds up to more than one billion women and girls—one billion daughters, mothers, grandmothers, sisters, lovers and friends.

“When we started V-Day 14 years ago, we had the outrageous idea that we could end violence against women,” said playwright and founder Eve Ensler. “Now, we are both stunned and thrilled to see that this global action is truly escalating and gaining force, with union workers, parliament members, celebritie and women of all backgrounds coming forward to join the campaign. When we come together on February 14 to demand an end to violence against women and girls, it will be a truly global voice that will rise up.”

V-Day is a global activist movement to end violence against women and girls that raises funds and awareness through benefit productions of Ensler’s award-winning play “The Vagina Monologues” and other artistic works. In 2012, over 5,800 V-Day benefit events took place produced by volunteer activists in the U.S. and around the world, educating millions of people about the reality of violence against women and girls.

To date, the V-Day movement has raised over $90 million and educated millions about the issue of violence against women and the efforts to end it, crafted international educational, media and PSA campaigns, reopened shelters and funded over 14,000 community-based anti-violence programs and safe houses in Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Kenya, South Dakota, Egypt and Iraq.

Over 300 million people have seen a V-Day benefit event in their community. See www.vday.org.