Media advisory: UN Women Executive Director’s press conference on the opening of the 57th Commission on the Status of Women: 4 March, 2.00 p.m.

Media Contacts: Oisika Chakrabarti, +1 646 781. 4522; oisika.chakrabarti[at]unwomen.org Hadrien Bonnaud, +1 646 781. 4751; hadrien.bonnaud[at]unwomen.org Sharon Grobeisen, +1 646 781. 4753; sharon.grobeisen[at]unwomen.org What: Press Conference with UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet When: Monday, 4 March, 2.00 – 2.45 p.m. Where: Dag Hammarskjöld Library Auditorium, UN Secretariat, New York It is estimated that up to seven in ten women globally will be beaten, raped, abused, or mutilated in their lifetimes. Violence against women is universal, and is prevalent in all countries and all settings. A gross human rights violation, it fractures families and communities and hampers development, also costing countries billions of dollars annually in healthcare costs and lost productivity. This is in spite of significant progress that has taken place: today, 187 countries have ratified the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women. The UN Security Council now recognizes sexual violence as a deliberate tactic of war. But much more is needed. Even though more than 125 countries have specific laws that penalize domestic violence, a historic number, 603 million women still live in countries where domestic violence is still not a crime. As 2012 has vividly demonstrated, violence against women and girls remains a horrific reality across the world. Against this backdrop, the 57th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW57) meets at the UN Headquarters in New York from 4 to 15 March 2013, with the priority theme: “Elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls.” During the meeting, UN Women will call on Member States to strengthen global norms and standards and increase political commitment and action to end such violence against women and girls. UN Women events during the Commission will highlight that it is possible to end this pandemic through determined leadership for prevention, protection and provision of services for survivors. List of CSW official events and UN Women co-sponsored side events at https://www.unwomen.org/2013/02/media-advisory-csw-57/ Media interview Opportunities: Women’s rights advocates, private sector partners, and One Woman song-related artistes are available for media interviews. Please e-mail media contacts listed. Related links: In-Focus section on the theme of CSW: https://www.unwomen.org/news-events/in-focus/CSW57 Social Media: Follow @UN_CSW and @UN_Women on Twitter for the latest updates and stories, using the hashtag #CSW57 CSW webcast of UN Women side events: Webcasts: https://www.unwomen.org/news-events/in-focus/CSW57/webcasts Gender-related news and resources from the UN system: https://www.un.org/womenwatch/ More on COMMIT and actions to end violence against women and girls: www.saynotoviolence.org UN press accreditation: www.un.org/media/accreditation