Press Release
Spanish Government Signs onto UNIFEM’s Say NO to Violence against Women Campaign
UNIFEM Executive Director Inés Alberdi and UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador Nicole Kidman join ceremony in Madrid.
For immediate release
Date: 2 June 2008
Media Inquiries:
Oisika Chakrabarti, Media Specialist, UNIFEM Headquarters, +1 212 906-6506,
United Nations, New York/Madrid — Spain has signed on to UNIFEM’s Say NO to Violence against Women campaign (www.SayNOtoViolence.org). Today, during a ceremony in Madrid, Bibiana Aído, Minister of Equality, added her name on behalf of the Spanish Government in the presence of UNIFEM Executive Director Inés Alberdi. UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador Nicole Kidman, who is the spokesperson of the campaign, joined the ceremony live via satellite link from Nashville.
The Say NO campaign is an Internet-driven advocacy effort that invites people sign their names to a virtual book as an expression of public support and a call on decision-makers worldwide to make ending violence against women a top priority. The initiative is designed to feed into and support UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s campaign on the same issue.
Minister of Equality Bibiana Aído emphasized that violence against women should be the Government’s concern: “It is not just a personal problem that should be resolved amongst couples or by women. Silence is an accomplice to the aggressors, and it is necessary to raise awareness in order to stop it.” The Minister added that this is why she considers the Say NO to Violence against Women campaign “exemplary.”
“We know that violence against women is a problem with a solution,” said UNIFEM Executive Director Inés Alberdi. “We know that it takes laws to end impunity; resources to provide protection and services to survivors; and above all, political will. The Spanish Government has shown its leadership on all of these fronts,” she said.
UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador Nicole Kidman thanked Minister Aído: “Your leadership sends a strong signal and is a ray of hope to women who experience violence. I continue to be shocked again and again, as I listen to women describe how they have been caught in a cycle of violence against them. You are in the vanguard of world leaders who recognize that it is a woman’s human right to live free from violence.”
Violence against women is probably the most pervasive human rights violation, affecting as many as one in three women and girls. Since resources are urgently needed, the Say NO campaign calls for support to the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. This UNIFEM-managed Trust Fund awards grants to innovative local initiatives in the developing world. Since its inception in 1997, it has awarded more than US$19 million in grants to 263 projects in 115 countries. UN Trust Fund grantees have worked to stop human trafficking, put an end to honour killings and provide services for survivors. A particular focus lies on supporting the implementation of laws and policies on violence against women. The Government of Spain is the largest donor to the UN Trust Fund.
The Say NO to Violence against Women campaign will run until 25 November 2008, when the signatures will be handed over to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
