UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) today launched the advocacy
initiative Say NO - UNiTE to End Violence against Women which will stimulate,
count and showcase actions on ending violence against women.



    Up to 70 percent of women experience violence from men in their lifetime.
Say NO - UniTE (www.saynoto violence.org) is a global call for action to end 
this pandemic violence. The initiative will contribute to the UN 
Secretary-General led campaign UNiTE to End Violence against Women. The 
luxury watch manufacturer OMEGA announced a challenge grant of US $50,000 for 
the first 50,000 actions, a result of cooperation with UNIFEM Goodwill 
Ambassador Nicole Kidman.



    Kicking off the international effort, UNIFEM Executive Director Ines
Alberdi in Nairobi along with Kenyan Minister of Gender, Children and Social
Development, Esther Murugi Mathenge, visited Kenyatta Hospital which provides
a one-stop shop to survivors of sexual violence, in partnership with COVAW, a
UNIFEM partner. They also saw prevention efforts first-hand as they met girls
at Ngara High School participating in leadership programmes, led by Kenyan
organization Cradle, another UNIFEM partner.



    Ms. Alberdi said: "We know that violence against women is a problem with
solutions. There is an urgent need for governments to make this issue a top
priority and take decisive action. UNIFEM is launching Say NO-UNiTE to
trigger actions and engage people in ending violence against women."



    Applauding the initiative, Minister Esther Murugi Mathenge, said: "Ending
violence against women is a top priority of the Kenyan Government and I am
personally very committed to the cause. I will continue to work towards
delivering more services and resources for survivors as well as prevention
programs. I also call upon all segments of society, including the private
sector, NGOs, academics, and in particular men to get involved so as to usher
in lasting change."



    Say NO - UNiTE has already gained the support of over 80 launch partners
and the multi-lingual broadcaster Euro News will also air throughout November
a Public Service Announcement with Nicole Kidman.



    Say NO builds upon the momentum generated in 2008 during its first phase,
when 5 million signed on to a global internet campaign, including 69
Governments and 600 parliamentarians.



    For more information: http://www.unifem.org/campaigns/sayno/



    B-roll footage, photos, PSA: ftp://unifem:X3fH56k7@ftp.a24media.com/







Source: United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)

Nanette Braun, +254-732-239-776, nanette.braun@unifem.org, or Oisika Chakrabarti, +1-212-906-6506, oisika.chakrabarti@unifem.org, both of UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)