So far, 18,000 people from all over the world have added their names to the Internet campaign ? called “Say NO to violence against women” and run by the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) ? since its launch last November.

“Thanks to this fantastic challenge grant, every signature will bolster our cause to make ending violence against women worldwide a top priority,” said Nicole Kidman, actress and UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador.

She added that the funds will go towards UN-backed local initiatives to prevent human trafficking, assisting survivors of domestic violence and helping to implement laws against rape.

The petition also hopes to generate support for the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women, which thus far has helped fun some 250 programmes in 120 countries.

“Each day, each hour, each minute, a woman in the world is a victim of violence,” said Timothy E. Wirth, UNF President. “Taking this simple step, signing on to the campaign, sends the message that enough is enough and the cycle of violence must stop now.”

UNF was created in 1998 with the aim of promoting a more peaceful, prosperous, and just world through the support of the UN. Through grant-making and building new and innovative public-private partnerships, it acts to meet the most pressing health, humanitarian, socio-economic and environmental challenges of the 21st century.

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New UN Internet campaign to eradicate violence against women launched