Media advisory: “Orange the world” events spur global action to end violence against women and girls

Media Contacts:
Oisika Chakrabarti, Ph: +1 646 781-4522; E-mail: oisika.chakrabarti[@]unwomen.org
Sharon Grobeisen, Ph: +1 646 781-4753; E-mail: sharon.grobeisen[@]unwomen.org
Zina Alam, Ph: +1 646 781-4783; E-mail: zina.alam[@]unwomen.org

What: The official commemoration on 25 November, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women at UN Headquarters will kick-start the global actions to “Orange the World” called by the UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign, which is managed by UN Women. Taking place during the civil society-driven 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, from 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, until 10 December, Human Rights Day, over 450 “orange events” will take place around the world, unified by the colour orange, to symbolize a brighter future without violence and mobilize people everywhere to bring about change. At UNHQ, the commemoration event will also launch the first-ever UN Framework for Preventing Violence against Women, jointly developed by UN entities including UN Women, ILO, UNDP, UNESCO, UNFPA and WHO. The framework develops a common understanding for the UN System, policymakers and other stakeholders on preventing violence against women and provides a theory of change to underpin action. In honour of the Day, on 25 November, New York City will join the global call to action by lighting up Gracie Mansion—the official residence of the Mayor—in orange to show their commitment to ending violence against women and girls. Messages about prevention of violence against women and the UNiTE campaign will be aired on New York City’s Taxi TV, and on the NASDAQ and Reuters screens in Times Square.

You are invited to the following press opportunities:

24 November

Press Conference on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and 16 Days of Activism

When: 12.20-12.50 p.m. approx. {Guest at the Noon Briefing}

Where: Press Briefing Room (S-237), United Nations Headquarters, New York

What: UN Under-Secretary-General and UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka will provide an overview of the activities for the 25 November official commemoration at UNHQ, including the launch of the prevention framework, and 16 Days of Activism globally.

Live webcast of the press conference will be available at www.unwomen.org and http://webtv.un.org/

25 November

Thankful Tree Ceremony—Photo Opportunity

When: 9.30-9.45 a.m.

Where: Northeast corner of the Visitor’s Lobby at UN Headquarters

What: UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka along with a representative of Thankful, and Sarah Kay, renowned poet will participate in a short ceremony which includes hanging of orange tags with messages on ending violence against women and girls on the Thankful Tree, along with short remarks. Thankful, an Australian company has created a global social movement to remind everybody how the everyday can be extraordinary. It is a partner of the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women and has dedicated a Thankful Tree to the cause of ending violence against women. Those attending the ceremony will be given orange tags and invited to place them on the tree with their Thankful messages after the ceremony, and to have their photos taken in the “oranged” social media booth. The Thankful Tree and social media booth will be open to the public until 2 p.m.

Official commemoration of the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

When: 10 a.m. – 12 noon

Where: Economic and Social Council Chamber, United Nations Headquarters, New York. Media interested in attending should RSVP here to attend.

What: The commemoration event at UN Headquarters attended by senior officials, members of civil society and artistes will kick start the “Orange Your World” initiative during the 16 Days of Activism. Prevention is the theme of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence this year, and the focus of the UNiTE to End Violence against Women Campaign’s call for action. At the commemoration event, the first-ever UN Framework on Preventing Violence against Women will be launched. Participants include: United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon; Gillian Bird, Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations; Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women; Mallika Dutt, President & CEO, Breakthrough; and Tony Gubesa, Site Coordinator, Grassroot Soccer, South Africa. The launch event of the UN Framework on Preventing Violence against Women and high-level panel discussion will include: Martin Shearman, Ambassador of Development, Peacebuilding, and Human Rights, Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom to the United Nations; Carlos Sergio Sobral Duarte, Ambassador, Deputy Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations; Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women; Babatunde Osotimehin, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UNFPA; and Krishanti Dharmaraj, Executive Director, Center for Women’s Global Leadership. Performances by Sarah Kay will be a key highlight of the event, which will be moderated by Richard Lui, MSNBC and NBC News.

Live webcast of the press conference will be available at www.unwomen.org and http://webtv.un.org/

Background

Violence against women and girls is a pandemic of global proportions. There has been some progress over the last few decades; today 125 countries have laws against sexual harassment and 119 against domestic violence, but only 52 countries on marital rape. In 2014, the WHO called violence against women and girls a ‘global epidemic’ and a public health crisis, given its impact on one in three women experiencing physical or sexual violence at some point in her life—mostly by an intimate partner, and sometimes rising to affect a staggering 70 per cent of women in certain countries. Among all women killed in 2012, nearly half died at the hands of a partner or family member. Preventing and ending violence means tackling its root cause, gender inequality, and this year’s ‘Orange the World” initiative will focus on the theme of preventing violence against women and girls. With the recent adoption of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, which includes targets on ending violence against women and girls, a critical juncture was reached in global recognition that violence against women and girls is a serious but preventable problem. This echoes the commitments made at the historic Global Leaders’ Meeting on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment event on 27 September 2015, co-hosted by UN Women, where many of the more than 70 world leaders who took the stage underlined ending violence against women and girls as a top priority for action, demonstrating not only the size and universality of the problem, but also the recognition of Heads of Government/State of this pandemic of violence being a major obstacle to fully achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women.

Note for media

Events on UN premises are open only to UN-accredited media. More information on media accreditation at: https://www.un.org/en/media/accreditation/

Live webcast of the press conference and event will be available at www.unwomen.org and http://webtv.un.org/

Photos from the events will be available at: https://flic.kr/s/aHskokiKb6

More information on Orange the World efforts at: https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/end-violence-against-women

Join the conversation on social media: Follow @SayNO_UNiTE and share your messages using the hashtags #orangetheworld and #16days (#16días in Spanish and #16jours in French). You can also upload your activities to this Facebook event page.