Happy International Women's Day! This International Women's Day, V-Day is shining an international spotlight on the women and girls of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Today we honor all the activists and women in grassroots women's groups in the DRC - and around the world - who have been fighting for freedom and peace for years. V-Day's efforts in the Congo follow the path these brave women have created and joins with their struggle to realize our common mission to end the subjugation and violence that women have been enduring for centuries. We stand with them as they fight to end the economic war for mineral resources that is being fought on their bodies. The women and girls of the DRC represent the passion, dedication and courage of the women for which International Women's Day was created. We celebrate the recent victories for women in the DRC: the public "Breaking The Silence" events where women in Goma and Bukavu for the first time stood up in front of their communities and government officials to speak out against their rapes and the impact of violence on their lives; and the historic march through the streets of Bukavu where women took back their lives and their voices to denounce the rampant violence against women in their country. We are also reminded however of the work ahead of us. We are reminded of the busloads of women arriving daily at Panzi Hospital in Bukavu. We are reminded of the girls as young as 8 months old and the women as old as 80 who are raped, sometimes beyond repair. We are reminded of the Doctors and nurses who spend every day caring for and healing women who have literally been torn apart. Today we ask you to dedicate yourself to ending the years of oppression and violence of the women and girls of the DRC. V-Day has designed a special e-card for this year's International Women's Day. Send a card to a friend or loved one to celebrate this incredible day and to confirm your dedication to ending the violence. Click here to give this e-gift > 94 cents of every dollar you give goes straight to ending violence against women and girls. Christine Schuler Deschryver Named One of Women's eNews' 21 Leaders for the 21st Century Vagina Warrior and V-Day's newest member of the team, Christine Schuler Deschryver has been named one of Women's eNews' 21 Leaders for the 21st Century, an awe-inspiring, reader-nominated list of activists and leaders from all over the world who are making news by changing women's lives. Read More > In 2007, Christine joined the V-Day and UNICEF global campaign STOP RAPING OUR GREATEST RESOURCE: POWER TO THE WOMEN AND GIRLS OF THE DRC. In January of 2009, Christine became a full time staff member and will lead V-Day's efforts on the ground in the Congo as Director of V-Day Congo and City of Joy. SHANE&SHAWN Team Up With V-Day To Raise Money To End Violence Against Women With New Designer Shoes - PRE-ORDER TODAY! Shane and Shawn Ward, founders of SHANE&SHAWN shoes, have teamed up with Eve and V-Day to raise awareness and money to end violence against women. The SHANE&SHAWN V-Day collection consists of two styles, the lace-up shoe for men, K-Mack; and for women the Eve, a specially designed pump named after Eve Ensler. Both styles bear an embroidered V-Day symbol in red and fuchsia, identifying the core of the V-Day message to the fashion world. In addition, SHANE&SHAWN's patent pending Luxury Liner, a quilted leather padding present in each SHANE&SHAWN shoe, receives a new look for the V-Day collection. "We pushed the limits of our creativity to deliver a shoe that echoes the sentiments of a charity that is dear to our hearts," says the brand's Creative Director Shane Ward. 25 percent of proceeds from the sales of V-Day Collection will benefit V-Day. The exclusive collection will be available in March 2009 at the SHANE&SHAWN flagship location in New York and online at www.shaneandshawn.com and www.vday.org. PRE-ORDER these unique and exciting shoes TODAY at http://www.shaneandshawnstore.com/vday.html Shoes ship the week of March 15th!