Press Conference and UN Commemoration of the International Day to End Violence against Women - Performance of Play: Wounded to Death
Date:
Media Contacts:
Oisika Chakrabarti, +1 646.781-4522; oisika.chakrabarti[at]unwomen.org
Sharon Grobeisen, +1 646.781-4753; sharon.grobeisen[at]unwomen.org
What: Press Conference and official UN Commemoration of the International Day to End Violence against Women, 25 November
When: Press Conference, Monday, 25 November, 11.15 a.m., Room S-0237, UN Secretariat, New York. Speakers will include UN Women Deputy Executive Director Lakshmi Puri; Permanent Representative of Italy to the UN, Ambassador Sebastiano Cardi; Serena Dandini, Italian writer and TV host. Actors/narrators Rosy Canale, Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Laurie Fabiano, Valeria Golino, Angela Della Costanza Turner and Maureen van Zandt will also be present.
Theatrical Performance of “Wounded to Death”, Trusteeship Council, UN Secretariat, 4-5.30 p.m. The performance will be presented by Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and the Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations, Ambassador Sebastiano Cardi. [See invitation]
LIVE webcast of both the events will be available at: https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/end-violence-against-women
Why: Violence against women and girls, a gross human rights violation, is a pandemic worldwide. One in three women is likely to face violence in her lifetime. Most violence takes place in intimate relationships, with up to 70 per cent of women reporting their husbands or partners as the perpetrator. In spite of significant progress in legislation and attitudinal shifts, violence against women is prevalent in all societies. Today 603 million women still live in countries where domestic violence is not a crime.
Background: At UN Headquarters, the Italian Mission, UN Women and the Department of Public Information will co-host the commemoration of the International Day to End Violence against Women by presenting the play "Wounded to Death" by renowned Italian playwright Serena Dandini. "Wounded to Death" is a series of monologues that give voice to women who have died as a result of femicide (murder of women based on their gender). The enactments will be presented by women from the world of entertainment, art and civil society, including among others Italian actors Maria Grazia Cucinotta and Valeria Golino; photographer Nan Goldin and artist Marina Abramovic.
Staged originally in Palermo the play has been presented with great success around Italy, inspiring spontaneous performances from people in rural villages to groups in schools.
The International Day to End Violence against Women is commemorated worldwide on 25 November. The Day also kicks off the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, an international campaign which runs until 10 December (Human Rights Day), inviting individuals and groups to mobilize and call for the elimination of violence against women and girls. This year’s official theme, framed by the UN Secretary-General’s campaign UNiTE to End Violence against Women, is “Orange the World in 16 Days”.
Note to media: A TV feed of the press conference and performance will be accessible through UNTV at https://www.un.org/en/media/accreditation/pdf/UNTV_Transmission_Guide.
Non-UN accredited media who wish to attend should contact the Media Accreditation Unit: https://www.un.org/en/media/accreditation/contact
Print media representatives who wish to attend the performance can register directly at: http://bit.ly/UNiTE_RSVP