It Will Take Joint Government, Community, Individual Action Worldwide to Stand

Up for Women, Secretary-General Says at Launch of Anti-Violence Campaign

(Delayed in transmission.)

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message, delivered by Moni Pizani, Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women), at the launch of the campaign “Promotion of Equality and Eradication of Violence against Women”, in San Miguel, El Salvador, on 18 July:

I am pleased to send greetings to the launch of the national campaign for the Promotion of Equality and Eradication of Violence against Women.  Gender equality and women’s empowerment are among my top priorities.  Justice, peace and sustainable development demand the full and equal participation of women and girls.  And ensuring the full enjoyment of fundamental rights means guaranteeing that women and girls are safe in the streets and in their homes, in schools and places of work.

My “UNiTE to End Violence against Women” campaign is working with Governments, the United Nations system, civil society and the private sector, the media, and women and men around the world.  At its centre is a message of prevention.  The best way to end violence against women is to prevent it from happening in the first place.

This year at the fifty-seventh session of the Commission on the Status of Women, Governments agreed to take strong action to end violence against women by working to change attitudes and behaviour, protect women’s rights and secure equal opportunities and participation for women.

I, therefore, commend the First Lady and Minister of Social Inclusion, Vanda Pignato, and the Government of El Salvador for taking such decisive action to galvanize public support for gender equality.  The national campaign will be an important complement to other initiatives to empower women and girls, such as the “Ciudad Mujer” multi-service centres for women and girls, which have attracted worldwide attention for their comprehensive approach to gender-based violence.

No country in the world has fully achieved gender equality and no country is free of violence against women and girls.  It will take the leadership of Governments, communities, and individuals in all countries to join forces, break the silence, and stand up for the fundamental rights of half of our human family.  With this campaign, you are acting on behalf, not just of the women and girls of El Salvador, but people across the globe.  I wish you a joyous launch and a successful campaign.

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For information media • not an official record