The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) helped make a stand on violence against women as part of a world-wide campaign on the issue.

The One Billion Rising for Justice (VDay) event saw millions of people around the world joining together to demand an end to acts of violence against women and young girls.

At the event organised by UCLan’s Creative Communities Group (CCG), University staff and students joined members of the public inside the Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre for a group dance led by instructor and World Salsa Dance champion Phil Kaila and Salsa Northwest.

The One Billion and Rising campaign is held across hundreds of countries around the world each year to heighten awareness of violence against women and young girls.  In addition it also looks to address other issues such as worker exploitation, poverty, racism, refugee rights and transphobia.

On the day itself, people were encouraged to gather in places of safety, such as schools and places of worship and make a stand, particularly on the alarming statistic that one in three women will be beaten or raped in their lifetime.  

With the world population at seven billion, this adds up to more than one billion women and girls. 

In Preston, over 4,000 women and girls aged between 16 and 59 have suffered from domestic violence.

Russell Hogarth University Honorary Fellow, Community Ambassador and chair of the UCLan Creative Communities Group said:  “This was an amazing event which was very well supported on the day. It makes me very proud to have seen our university staff, students and community members coming together in solidarity to raise awareness of the one billion violent attacks against women globally.”

Nigel Farnworth, UCLan Creative Communities Group (CCG) manager said: “I'd like to thank the other local dance groups that showed support at the event, including Zumba with Becky and Dance Syndrome.

"We also had great support from Creative Communities Group Volunteer and UCLan Student Marta Rulyte as she filmed, edited and uploaded the event on YouTube on behalf of the CCG.”