UN Head Opens Campaign to End Violence Against Women

NEW YORK, Feb. 25 – United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon opened a high-level session on women today with a call on world leaders to end violence against women. He announced a three-year campaign to step up global advocacy on behalf of women, with UN agencies leading by example and forging new partnerships and programs worldwide.

“Violence against women and girls makes its hideous imprint on every continent, country and culture,” Ban said in a speech at the opening of the Commission on the Status of Women. Noting that one in every three women will be beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused, he said the campaign’s goal was to mobilize leaders’ political will and raise new resources to tackle the problem. “It is time to break through the walls of silence and make legal norms a reality in women’s lives,” he said.

The drive follows upon a pledge by world leaders at the 2005 World Summit to redouble efforts against gender-based violence, as well as three related General Assembly resolutions since December 2006. Twelve UN organizations have already joined the UN Action Against Sexual Violence in Conflict group as part of the new approach.

Other speakers at the commission session will include Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, executive director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund; and Taina Bien Aime, of Equality Now.

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