UNIFEM

Violence against women is often ignored and rarely punished. Women and girls suffer disproportionately from violence - both in peace and in war, at the hands of the state, the community and the family. 

Nine new Governments and the European Commission join UNIFEM to say to violence against women.

 

Our campaign gains momentum!

Representatives of Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Jordan, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, the Palestinian National Authority, Switzerland, the UAE and EC joined Senegal, Tanzania and Spain in signing onto the campaign. Pictured here (left to right): Micheline Calmy-Rey, Foreign Minister of Switzerland; Dora Bakoyannis, Foreign Minister of Greece; Ursula Plassnik, Foreign Minister of Austria; Benita Ferrero-Waldner, EU Commissioner for External Relations; Rita Kieber-Beck, Foreign Minister of Liechtenstein; Karen Koning AbuZayd, UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees Commissioner-General. (Photo: Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs/HOPI-MEDIA/Bernard J. Holzner.)

A personal message from Nicole Kidman

Dear Campaign Supporters,

 

Your message that ending violence against women must be a top priority for governments everywhere is being heard loud and clear. As UNIFEM’s Goodwill Ambassador and spokesperson for the campaign, I participated from Nashville, Tennessee, as the government of Spain gave their full support at an event in Madrid’s Presidential Palace on 4 June.

Thanks to advocates in government and civil society, UNIFEM’s Say NO to Violence against Women campaign continues to gain momentum. On 23 June, foreign ministers and prime ministers from nine new countries, the European Commission and others went on record and signed at an event in Vienna, Austria.

But we have a challenge to meet. We need at least one million people to join by 25 November 2008 — International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

I’m sending this news on to more friends. Won’t you do the same and forward to three people today? Together, we can change the heart-stopping statistic that one in three women will be a victim of violence in her lifetime. Let’s send the message that violence against women must and can be stopped.

Nicole Kidman
UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador

 

Tanzanian President signs UNIFEM's Say NO to Violence against Women campaign

Dar es Salaam, 27 May 2008 — President of the United Republic of Tanzania H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete signed UNIFEM’s Say NO to Violence against Women campaign on Saturday 24 May 2008 in Dar es Salaam. At a colourful ceremony at Mnazi Mmoja Grounds, the president led more than 2,000 people from government ministries and institutions, universities, schools, women’s organizations, unions, the UN, and development partners to add their names to the campaign. In doing so, President Kikwete, who is also Chair of the African Union, became the second African head of state, after President Wade of Senegal, to sign onto the UNIFEM-led campaign, making a clear demonstration of his Government’s high-level commitment to making ending violence against women a priority. The ceremony was c oordinated by the Ministry of Community Development, Gender and Children (MCDGC) with support from UNIFEM, the South African High Commission in Dar es Salaam, the European Union and the Embassy of Spain.

President Kikwete called on women to break the silence on violence and seek redress for violations. Indicating that laws, systems and institutions in Tanzania do not adequately respond to violence against women, the president declared, “We as a government are ready to work together with development partners to review laws and take whatever measures necessary to prevent and eliminate violence against women.” The president called on all ministries, regional governors and district commissioners to actively promote the campaign.

The ceremony provided an opportunity for two women survivors of violence to share their experiences. Thirty-four-year-old Asha spoke about her loosing an eye as a result of domestic violence meted out by her husband. Another woman, Tatu Bakari, told the audience how all her property was taken away by in-laws following her husband’s death in 2006, leaving her with no means of supporting her two children.

“We must say NO to violence against women; it is dehumanizing,” said Hon. Margaret Sitta, Minister of Community Development, Gender and Children. “I appeal to all to come out and sign onto the campaign and to the government to provide resources for addressing violence against women.”

European Union Ambassador Tim Clarke congratulated Tanzania for promoting the empowerment of women visible in high offices held in the United Nations, AU Commission, African Parliament, Government, Parliament and at all levels of decision making. Having said that, the Ambassador regretted that inequity and injustice are still a part of everyday life for women, particularly in the rural areas. “On my behalf and that of the EU, I pledge to make a difference, to take concrete, measurable steps to promote women’s and girls rights. I believe there is no more worthy or noble cause than to stop all violence against women and girls,” he concluded.

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