Internationally, one out of every three women will be beaten, forced to have sex or abused in some other manner in her lifetime, according to the World Health Organization.

This week, Iowa State will be taking part in V-Day, a global movement to stop violence against women and girls. V-Day promotes creative events to increase awareness, raise money and revitalize the spirit of existing anti-violence organizations.

The “V” in V-Day stands for Victory, Valentine and Vagina. To date, V-Day has raised over $60 million and educated millions about the issue of violence against women and the efforts to end it, according to the V-Day Web site.

On campus, the Margaret Sloss Women’s Center, the Vagina Warriors and the Maintenance Shop will be joining the V-Day efforts by raising funds and awareness through benefit productions of Playwright/Founder Eve Ensler’s award-winning play “The Vagina Monologues.”

“The Vagina Monologues” is a series of short stories depicting women’s personal experiences with violence and sex, their understanding of themselves and their position in the world, and the inequity and oppression women continue to experience.

“‘The Vagina Monologues’ take the audience through a whirlwind of emotions. Some of the monologues are hilarious, some are sexy as hell and some will leave you in tears,” said Aly Peeler, senior in history and president of the Vagina Warriors. “We really want the audience to understand the difficulties women face, but also see the beauty and triumph found through these women’s stories.”

Each year, Ensler chooses a group of women to highlight as the Spotlight Monologue in the play. This year, the women of the Democratic Republic of Congo and their stories of survival have been chosen.

“The Vagina Monologues” will raise funds to help these women, and also to help the Assault Care Center Extending Shelter and Support, the women’s shelter in Ames.

“We want people to know that this isn’t something that happens in ‘other’ neighborhoods or communities,” said Penny Rice, director of the Sloss House and Vagina Warriors adviser. “This is happening right here in the middle of Iowa to women every day. We, as a community that professes to care about the success of all of our students, staff and faculty, need to acknowledge the reality of violence in women’s lives. And we, as a community, need to take action to end the violence.”

Profits will be donated to ACCESS, V-Day National Philanthropy and Stop Raping Our Greatest Resource: Power to the Women & Girls of Democratic Republic of Congo.

“I hope everyone will see the monologues at least once in their lives, if not only for the donations to a good cause, but because it will be an experience you will never forget and never take for granted,” Peeler said.