Causecast

by ERICA LIEPMANN, Causecast Associate Editor

UPDATE:

January 8, UNIFEM and Family Violence Prevention Fund break ground for the new International Centre to End Violence at a ceremony in San Francisco.

UNIFEM reports:

At today’s groundbreaking ceremony in San Francisco’s Presidio National Park (3 p.m., PST), UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador Nicole Kidman will spotlight the need for concrete actions to end violence against women globally and announce UNIFEM’s partnership with Family Violence Prevention Fund’s new International Centre to End Violence. Located in historic building 100, the new global action centre will be a crossroads where international activists and leaders convene, share experiences and lessons that advance policies and solutions to end violence against women and children.

The Say No – UNiTE To End Violence Against Women campaign kicked off November 2009, aiming to put the global spotlight on the issue of violence against women and girls. An offshoot of UNIFEM, the United Nations Development Fund for Women, the Say No campaign is setting some ambitious goals to eradicate violence against women.

The goals:

• To keep the ball rolling on the global call, a commitment to make ending violence against women a top international priority. Over five million people have already signed on, including Heads of States and Ministers from 69 Governments and more than 600 Parliamentarians.

• To encourage people around the world to take action in their communities. The aim is to reach 100,000 actions by March 2010 and one million actions by November 2010.

• To build the U.N. Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence against Women.

Nicole Kidman, a UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador, is lending her voice as the official Say No spokesperson.

Here’s Nicole Kidman, reminding the world No is No in any language:

How you can get involved:

• Read up on the issue. You might be shocked to know 70 percent of women and girls around the globe will experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. It might be hard to read, but the first step to fighting the problem is knowing the facts.

• Join an action in your community! This can include anything ranging from raising awareness to fundraising campaigns. If there isn’t an action taking place near you, start one! Here are some ideas for actions and the Organizer’s Toolkit will help you get started.

• When you sign up to host or participate in a local action, make sure your name is added to the global call to make ending violence a priority.

• Donate to the U.N. Trust To End Violence Against Women, which supports programs to help women around the globe.

Photo by Rita Molnár, Wikimedia Commons.