WUNRN
Challenge
Grant to End Violence Against Women
UN Foundation to donate $1 for every signature to UNIFEM
online campaign
WASHINGTON DC / New York (January 22, 2008) - The United Nations Foundation announced today its support for the “Say NO to Violence against Women” campaign. The Foundation will donate $1 for each the first 100,000 signatures to the online campaign that is run by the UN Development Fund for Women, UNIFEM.
The contributions will go to the UNIFEM-managed UN Trust
Fund to End Violence against Women.
“Recent UN research has demonstrated the shameful scope of violence against
women around the world, where one in three women are subject to some form of
coercion or abuse in their lifetimes,” said Timothy E. Wirth, President of the
United Nations Foundation. “To turn the tide on violence, the international
community must work together to stand up for the human rights of women and
that’s what UNIFEM’s “Say NO” campaign does. It allows people everywhere to go
on record and stand up for a world free of violence against women.”
“Thanks to this fantastic challenge grant, every signature will bolster our
cause to make ending violence against women worldwide a top priority”, said
UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador Nicole Kidman who champions the campaign. What’s
more, it will help provide critical resources for local initiatives that are
supported through the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women – whether it
is working to prevent human trafficking, assisting survivors of domestic
violence or helping implement laws against rape.”
People can sign on to the campaign at www.sayNOtoviolence.org.
“The more people join, the stronger the message that there is an ever-growing
movement of people who are demanding decisive action to put a stop to what is
probably the most pervasive human rights violation”, added acting UNIFEM
Executive Director Joanne Sandler. “This generous donation will provide an
additional strong incentive for people to sign up to the campaign.”
The “Say No to Violence against Women” campaign was launched November 26, 2007.
To date more than 18,000 people worldwide have signed the call that urges an
end to violence against women and encourages support to the UN Trust Fund to
End Violence against Women. This Trust Fund, managed by UNIFEM for the UN
system, supports innovative initiatives by governments and non-governmental
organizations to end violence against women. Since its establishment in 1996,
it has helped fund some 250 initiatives in 120 countries.
"Each day, each hour, each minute, a woman in the world is a victim of
violence," said Wirth. "Taking this simple step, signing on to the
campaign, sends the message that enough is enough and the cycle of violence
must stop now."
For more information about the campaign visit www.sayNOtoviolence.org
or www.unfoundation.org.
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