In all parts of the world, women and girls are subject to various forms of violence and abuse. As champions of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and women’s rights and empowerment, the EU and the UN will launch a global initiative to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls on 20 September at United Nations Headquarters in New York.

Backed by a dedicated financial envelope from the EU of EUR 500 million, the new partnership will focus action on several areas of major concern such as trafficking in women and girls and sexual and economic (labour) exploitation; domestic and family violence; sexual and gender-based violence; as well as femicide.

Interviews with participants and technical briefings can be organised upon request. 

Who:

  • António Guterres, UN Secretary-General
  • Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy-Secretary-General
  • Neven Mimica, European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development
  • Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission
  • Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women
  • Jayathma Wickramanayake, UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth
  • Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Prize Laureate and UN Messenger of Peace with a special focus on girls’ education
  • Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, UNDP Goodwill Ambassador
  • Ashley Judd, UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador
  • Priyanka Chopra, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador
  • Gloria Steinem, Journalist
  • Inna Modja, Singer
  • Heads of UN Agencies, Heads of State and representatives of civil society

What:          Launch of the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative to eliminate violence against women and girls

When:         Wednesday 20 September, 2017 at 2:00-4:00p.m. EDT

Where:        Trusteeship Council, UN Headquarters, New York or live through http://webtv.un.org

Media contacts

UN Department of Public Information
Francyne Harrigan, T: +1 (917) 428-7505 | E: harriganf@un.org
Kensuke Matsueda, T: +1 (917) 367-5418 | E: matsueda@un.org

EU communication focal point
Carlos Martin Ruiz De Gordejuela, T: +32 2 296 53 22 | E: Carlos.MARTIN@ec.europa.eu
Christina Wunder, T: +32 2 299 22 56 | E: Christina.WUNDER@ec.europa.eu