A global call to “Orange YOUR Neighbourhood” galvanizes communities to stop violence against women. From 25 November to 10 December (Human Rights Day) to say NO to violence against women
A global call to “Orange YOUR Neighbourhood” galvanizes communities to
stop violence against women. From 25 November to 10 December ‘Human Rights Day)
to say NO to violence against women and girls.
New York —
A United Nations call to “Orange YOUR Neighbourhood” kicks off tomorrow with
people around the world displaying the colour to symbolize hope for a future
free from violence against women and girls.
Tonight, for the first time ever, both the iconic Empire State Building
and UN Headquarters in New York will shine in orange light. In Times Square,
one of the world’s most visited tourist attractions, the NASDAQ and Reuters
Tower screens will flash the colour along with anti-violence messages on 25
November, the International Day to
End Violence against Women.
“We need this eye-catching colour everywhere so
that the message is loud and clear: we all need to work together to stop
violence against women and girls right now,” says UN Women Executive Director
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. “That includes men and boys standing up for what’s
right and working with us and the women’s movement to tackle gender inequality.
We have to end this universal violation of human rights. We know what works;
now we are insisting on the commitment of political action and commensurate
resources to that agenda.”
“Orange YOUR Neighbourhood” is
part of the UN Secretary-General’s campaign UNiTE to End Violence
against Women. The
theme will carry through related events during the 16 Days of Activism against
Gender-Based Violence, which run between 25 November and 10 December, Human
Rights Day. This year’s commemoration will be marked by a clarion call to
partners to demonstrate their support to end this pandemic that affects one
billion women. People
will tie orange ribbons on landmarks. Marchers dressed in orange will raise
awareness and discuss community-wide solutions.
One of the biggest events of the Latin American
region is a marathon in Mexico City, the result of a partnership between UN
Women and TV Azteca, one of the region’s top media groups. In Africa,
among a series of creative initiatives, a film forum will be hosted in Uganda
screening stories focusing on the experiences of women's lives, and a
collaborative venture with Talk Radio 702 in South Africa, will promote zero
tolerance for gender-based violence. In Asia-Pacific, public spaces in
India will turn orange to promote awareness among local communities, and youth
champions in Cambodia will take anti-violence messages online to galvanize
action through social media. In the Arab States region, several activities are
planned, many with a special focus on violence against women in Gaza. High-profile
events in Eastern Europe and Central Asia include a series of awareness-raising
forums in Kosovo (under UN Security Council Resolution 1244) on the violence
that young girls face in high schools, and more than 100 events in
Kyrgyzstan engaging Members of Parliament, government officials, donors, and
civil society.
As part of the mobilization by partners, influential media outlets and
their journalists are expected to show personal commitment to the
cause by symbolically using orange in their studios or in their attire, urging
audiences to do their part to end violence against women and girls. Partnerships
with the private sector will also play a catalytic role this year. Coinciding
with the International Day, United Colors of
Benetton is launching a campaign which will contribute to increasing
awareness.
Watch
the Benetton ad campaign video:
Erik Ravelo, Head of Social Engagement Campaigns of Fabrica (Benetton
Group’s communications research centre) and creative director of the campaign,
said: “We have always focused on socially responsible communication initiatives
and are happy to lend our creativity as part of efforts to raise awareness on
the issue of violence against women: we chose a flower instead of a stone to
say no to a human rights violation that causes permanent physical and emotional
scars and that is reflected in all social classes.”
Despite recent progress in many countries to
stop violence, gaps remain, with devastating consequences. Around the world,
women are beaten in their homes, harassed on the streets and bullied on the
Internet. One in three women experiences physical or sexual violence at some
point in her life – mostly by an intimate partner. Among all women killed in
2012, nearly half died at the hands of a partner or family member. Far too
often, crimes go unpunished and perpetrators walk free.
A critical juncture has been reached with
global recognition that violence against women and girls is a serious but
solvable problem. Momentum is growing as the world gears up in 2015 to mark the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Platform
for Action, as well
as the end of the Millennium Development Goals and the framing of a bold new
global development agenda.
“Together we must make 2015 the year that marks
the beginning of the end of gender inequality,” Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka
added. “Now
is the time for action.”
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