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Progress for Women Is Progress for All

Nicole Kidman urges support for Say No campaign - 22nd April 2008

At a press conference in New York on 22 April UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador Nicole Kidman and leading United Nations officials called for millions of people to raise their voices against violence against women. They urged people to take part in the Say No to Violence campaign, a global Internet-based initiative by UNIFEM which aims to build public support and political will for concerted action on the issue. The private sector was also encouraged to support United Nations efforts by contributing to the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women.

Nicole Kidman urges support for Say No campaign

'I know there are millions around the world who care deeply about the issue of violence against women and I urge them all to come on board' said Nicole Kidman at the press conference 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.

'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,' she added. 'The Say No to Violence campaign provides people with an opportunity to add their names to an ever-growing movement of people demanding that ending violence against women is made a top priority for governments around the world.'

UN Deputy Secretary General Asha-Rose Migiro welcomed UNIFEM's initiative as an important contribution to the seven-year Unite to End Violence Against Women campaign launched by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in February. 'We need more of this and other initiatives throughout the UN system in the coming years as we join together around the Secretary-General's campaign,' she said. 'By raising awareness we can help 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% of those trafficked women and children.'

It is estimated that worldwide one in three women will be beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime. Joanne Sandler, acting Executive Director of UNIFEM, spoke about the progress that was being made and underlined the need to translate that progress into fully funded 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. She emphasised 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 initiatives that work. 'Through the Trust Fund we have learned that strategic investments can protect women and prevent gender-based violence. For example, public spaces are being made safer for women in Argentina and Peru, and in Rwanda police have received training and motorbikes so they can respond quickly to incidents of domestic violence."

The Trust Fund receives requests well in excess of $100 million each year, and while contributions are increasing - reaching a record high of $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 with the United Nations, is essential to build a strong coalition united to end violence against women. Corporations, nongovernmental organisations and foundations are joining forces with UNIFEM to support the Trust Fund and the Say No campaign offers another opportunity to contribute. Tim Wirth, President of the United Nations Foundation, presented UNIFEM with a $100,000 contribution to the Trust Fund at the press conference. 'The UN Foundation issued a challenge grant that donated $1 for each of the first 100,000 signatures,' he explained and he called on others to join the more than 200,000 people who have now signed on.

The Say No initiative continues until 25 November 2008, the internationally recognised day to eliminate violence against women, when UNIFEM will hand over the signatures to Ban Ki-moon in support of his global campaign.

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