U.N. officials on Thursday "joined millions of people around the world who are taking a stance against violence against women as part of the One Billion Rising campaign," the U.N. News Centre reports. "The One Billion Rising campaign, sponsored by the V-day Organization, seeks to mobilize men and women around the world on Valentine's Day -- observed annually in various countries on 14 February -- to raise their voices to stop violence against women and girls, including rape, battery, incest, female genital mutilation (FGM), and sex slavery," the news service writes, adding, "Dances, protests and panel discussions are being held around the world to mark the event."