Deputy Secretary-General: Statements
Montevideo, Uruguay, 8 November 2011 - Deputy Secretary-General's remarks on "Unite" Campaign to End Violence Against Women and Girls "SAY NO" Initiative in Uruguay
No country is immune to violence against women and girls.
It is a global pandemic.
Worldwide, women and girls endure a litany of abuse: domestic violence? rape? female genital mutilation? dowry-related killing? trafficking? sexual violence in conflict? harassment on the streets and in the workplace. Many of the perpetrators carry out these appalling crimes with impunity.
This is why the United Nations Secretary-General launched the UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign in 2008.
It seeks to raise awareness and political will and accelerate progress on this key issue.
It also aims to ensure that UN entities coordinate the assistance they provide to Member States in translating legal and policy commitments into justice and protection for women and girls.
The first regional component of the UNiTE campaign was launched in Latin America two years ago.
It was followed by launches in the Caribbean, Africa and Asia-Pacific.
Since then, UNiTE has partnered with governments and regional, national and local organizations around the world to develop and implement common goals and strategies.
Through the Say NO-UNiTE social mobilization platform, developed by UN Women, the campaign has registered more than 2 million actions by more than 600 partners worldwide.
I am delighted to see that Uruguay has joined the campaign and is using the Say NO-UNiTE initiative in such creative ways.
The social awareness campaign, “Take Action Uruguay” has found an innovative way to unify the concept of not accepting violence with that of concrete action.
The UN System thanks the Ministries of Health, Education and Internal Affairs, a number of State Departments, the National Institute for Women, the National Institute for Children and Adolescents, women parliamentary representatives and the Uruguayan Network to End Violence Against Women for their support.
Such wide-ranging mobilization is exactly what we need.
We look forward to many more countries joining the UNiTE campaign – and emulating Uruguay's exemplary initiative.
Together, we can end violence against women and girls so they can reach their full potential – to the benefit of all society.
Thank you
* *** *
Statements on 8 November 2011