"We need to break through the wall of silence that surrounds violence against women. And we must turn legal norms into reality in women's lives". - Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, 19 November 2007.
UNIFEM together with its Goodwill Ambassador, Nicole Kidman, is launching an internet-based global advocacy initiative through a press conference. The initiative will run until 8 March 2008 (International Women's Day). The UN's Special Rapporteur on VAW, Dr. Yakin Erturk has also lent her support to the campaign. Today, the site www.saynotoviolence.org will be activated to allow people to "say NO to violence against women" by adding their names to the "virtual" book on the web site.
UNIFEM Afghanistan's Programme Director, Ms. Meryem Aslan, invites everyone in Afghanistan to lend their support to this initiative with the message:
"Despite the fact that it is not sanctioned by any culture or religion, and is unacceptable to most men and women, across the world violence against women continues to cast a shadow on the ability of the human race to respect one of the most basic human rights- the right to a life free of fear and violence. This cannot be resolved unless all women and men, boys and girls of the world unite and say "NO" to the violence that paralyses the lives of millions of women across the world".
In Afghanistan, UN and other partners are providing support to the Inter-Ministerial Commission on Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW) in launching the 16-day campaign of ending violence against women. This is an international event that starts on November 25, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and continues until December 10, International Human Rights Day for a 16-day campaign, in order to emphasize that violence against women is a human rights violation.
Joint activities for the 16-day campaign in Afghanistan
The Ministry of Women's Affairs has organized various activities in Afghanistan with support from the UN and other partners. If you are interested in becoming a part of the campaign, UNIFEM has the details available.
For Further information, please contact: Ms. Ayesha Durrani, UNIFEM Afghanistan at duayesha@gmail.com
UNIFEM Afghanistan
UNDP compound Shahr-e-Naw
Kabul Afghanistan
Tel: +93 (0)20 212 4708
Fax: + 873-763 468 836
Website:www.unifem.undp.org