UNIFEM and Goodwill Ambassador Nicole Kidman Launch Internet Campaign on Ending Violence against Women

UNIFEM and Goodwill Ambassador Nicole Kidman Launch Internet Campaign on Ending Violence against Women

November 27, 2007

    NEW YORK, Nov. 27 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- United Nations
-- The United Nations Development Fund for Women, UNIFEM,
its Goodwill Ambassador Nicole Kidman, and a large number
of partners launched an Internet campaign on ending
violence against women today. Titled, "Say NO to
Violence against Women," the campaign invites people
to add their names to a "virtual" book on a web
site that has been developed specifically for this purpose:
http://www.saynotoviolence.org .  Urging hundreds of
thousands -- even millions -- of people around the world to
participate, the campaign aims to send a strong message to
decision-makers to place ending violence against women high
on the global agenda.  

    "Violence against women is an appalling human
rights violation," said UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador
Nicole Kidman. "But it is not inevitable. We can put a
stop to this. The more names we collect, the stronger our
case to make ending violence against women a top priority
for governments everywhere. This is why I was the first to
sign my name."   

    Statistics indicate that as many as one in three women
will experience violence in her lifetime. Too often, this
violence occurs with impunity for perpetrators and
inadequate access to support for survivors. UNIFEM has been
a leading advocate for decisive action to address the
multiple manifestations of gender-based violence -- whether
it be domestic violence, human trafficking or systematic
rape in conflict zones. The task continues, however, to be
an uphill battle, as fear and shame prevent many women from
speaking out.  

    Joanne Sandler, acting UNIFEM Executive Director, said:
"The momentum to address violence against women is
increasing. At least 89 countries, for example, have
legislative provisions on domestic violence by now. But
implementation of these laws is often insufficient due to a
lack of political will, capacity and resources. As long as
violence is pervasive and women do not dare to accuse their
abusers, the issue needs to be much more prominent in public
debate."

    UNIFEM's Internet campaign is a gateway to information
on violence against women, including pointing out ways to
get involved. Since resources are critical to tackling the
issue, it also highlights the UN Trust Fund to End Violence
against Women, through which initiatives in developing
countries have received much-needed support, in particular
to advance the implementation of laws and policies.  

    Major civil society organizations representing millions
of members, such as World YWCA, Zonta International and the
White Ribbon Campaign have come on board as launch
partners, as have private sector companies like Avon, and
UN partners such as UNICEF. 

    The campaign will run until 8 March 2008, International
Women's Day. It was developed on a pro bono basis by
London-based advertising agency Leo Burnett, with
additional pro bono support by companies arc, sky, vividas,
tsunami, ITN source, MPC, and wave.      


    For more information, please contact:

    UNIFEM

     Nanette Braun
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]

     Letitia Anderson
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]