Watch part two

This week on One on One, Riz Khan meets author and activist, Eve Ensler, whose controversial work, The Vagina Monologues, has redefined the way women around the world talk about themselves.

Her movement soon escalated into a global campaign to end violence against women.

A traumatic childhood filled with violence and rape forged her determination to help abused women find a way out and achieve safety and security.

Eve Ensler describes herself as "a consequence of violence", managing to overcome her personal demons - including alcoholism and drug addiction - to become an activist working with tireless determination.

She found her voice through her controversial but immensely successful, award-winning work The Vagina Monologues, which she wrote in 1996 and which was first performed in the basement of a café.

The masterpiece went on to be translated into 45 languages and performed in around 120 countries – featuring a host of A-list Hollywood celebrities, such as fellow activist, Jane Fonda.

After witnessing how her writing and stage productions could change the attitudes of women and men, Ensler took her work to countries such as Afghanistan – risking her personal safety – and parts of Africa, particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo where violent conflict has directly targeted women and girls.

She continues to build a catalogue of inspirational work from a feminist perspective, such as The Good Body, that focuses on personal image, and A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant and A Prayer, which, in true Eve Ensler style, features the contributions of some leading international figures, with the clear focus of stopping violence against women and girls.
 
This episode of One on One can be seen from Saturday, July 4, 2009 at the following times GMT: Saturday: 0130, 1630; Sunday: 0430, 2330; Monday: 0300, 1230.