For immediate release
Date: 22 April 2008
Media Inquiries
Nanette Braun, Communications Specialist
UNIFEM Headquarters
+1 212 906-6829, nanette.braun [at] unifem.org
For immediate release
Date: 22 April 2008
Media Inquiries
Nanette Braun, Communications Specialist
UNIFEM Headquarters
+1 212 906-6829, nanette.braun [at] unifem.org
UNIFEM GOODWILL AMBASSADOR NICOLE KIDMAN, LEADING UN OFFICIALS CALL FOR MILLIONS TO RAISE THEIR VOICES AGAINST VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
Widespread Participation in UNIFEM's Say NO Campaign Encouraged / Private Sector Urged to Contribute
Widespread Participation in UNIFEM's Say NO Campaign Encouraged / Private Sector Urged to Contribute
United Nations, New York — UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador Nicole Kidman today called for millions of people to raise their voices against violence against women. "I know that there
are millions around the world who care deeply about the issue — and I urge all of them to come on board," said the Academy Award–winning actress at a press conference at the United Nations that also included UN Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro, UNIFEM acting Executive Director Joanne Sandler, and Tim Wirth, President of the United Nations Foundation.
Nicole Kidman encouraged widespread participation in the Say NO to Violence against Women campaign (www.sayNOtoviolence.org), a global Internet-based advocacy initiative by UNIFEM, the United Nations Development Fund for Women. Nicole Kidman is the campaign's spokesperson. "I have been UNIFEM's Goodwill Ambassador for more than two years now and I have seen how being born a woman puts you at risk of the most appalling and widespread human rights violation of our time," said Ms. Kidman. "The Say NO campaign provides people all over the world with an opportunity to add their names to an ever-growing movement of people demanding that ending violence against women be made a top priority for governments around the world," she added.
UN Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro welcomed UNIFEM's Internet initiative as an important contribution to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's multi-year campaign on violence against women. "We need more of this and other initiatives throughout the UN system in the next years as we join together around the UN Secretary-General's campaign," she said. "By raising awareness, [the Say NO campaign] helps to make visible the hidden pandemic of our time. Violence against women is hidden in homes and schools and other places where women and girls should feel safe, but do not because too often they are abused by a family member. It is hidden in the billions of dollars earned by criminal networks from human trafficking, the third most lucrative illicit business in the world after arms and drugs, with some 80 percent of those trafficked women and children," added the UN Deputy Secretary-G eneral. It is estimated that worldwide, one in three women will be beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime.
Joanne Sandler, UNIFEM Executive Director a.i., stressed the progress made and underscored the need to translate that progress into fully funded concrete programmes and services. "At least 89 countries have specific laws on domestic violence and more than 100 countries have made rape a crime. Yet, the violent crimes committed against women far too often go unpunished and the perpetrators walk free," she said. Sandler emphasized the need to scale up funding for the UNIFEM-managed United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence against Women, which provides financial support globally to innovative efforts that work. "Through the Trust Fund we have learned that strategic investments can protect women and prevent gender-based violence. Public spaces are being made safer for women in Argentina and Peru and in Rwanda, police have received training and motorbikes so that they can respond quickly to incidents of domestic violence," she said.
The Trust Fund receives requests well in excess of US$100 million annually, and while contributions are increasing — reaching a record high of US$15 million for grants in 2008 — there is much more good work to be funded. UNIFEM's Say NO campaign seeks additional resources for the Trust Fund as it builds public support and political will on the issue.
Participation by the private sector, working in tandem with the United Nations, is essential to build a strong coalition united to end violence against women. Corporations, nongovernmental organizations and foundations are joining forces with UNIFEM and supporting the UN Trust Fund, at times through the Say NO campaign. Mr. Tim Wirth, President of the United Nations Foundation, presenting to UNIFEM a US$100,000 contribution to the Trust Fund, said: "The UN Foundation issued a challenge grant that donated $1 to each of the first 100,000 signatures. We are very pleased to cut our check to the UN Trust Fund." Mr. Wirth called on others to join the more than 200,000 people who have already signed on. "We all must play a part," he added.
UNIFEM's Say NO initiative continues until 25 November 2008, the internationally recognized day to eliminate violence against women, when UNIFEM will hand over the signatures to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in support of his global campaign.
