Video: Zoe Tay supports today's International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
Today (Nov 25) is the International Day to End Violence Against Women and people around the world are doing their part in the campaign.
In Singapore, actress Zoe Tay is appearing in a TV campaign to support the Sexual Assault Care Centre (SACC) run by The Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware)
“Sexual assault can happen to anyone,” Zoe Tay tells viewers.
“But no one should have to suffer in silence.”
The videos also give viewers information about the services offered by SACC, Singapore’s only specialist service for women who have faced sexual assault, Aware said in a press release.
Expanding on Aware’s previous Sexual Assault Befrienders Service, SACC features a drop-in centre with an on-site social worker who can assist clients immediately, (open Mon-Fri, 10am to
7pm), a helpline (6779 0282, Mon-Fri, 10am to midnight) and email support (sacc@aware.org.sg).
The SACC website (http://www.sacc.sg) provides up-to-date information about sexual assault for those who prefer to find out more in the privacy of their own web browser.
In the US
For the first time ever, both the iconic Empire State Building and United Nations Headquarters in New York were bathed in orange light on Monday night in celebration of UN- Women’s “Orange YOUR Neighborhood” campaign ahead of the International Day to End Violence Against Women.
“Together, we must end this global disgrace,” UN Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon said at a special pre-lighting ceremony at the Empire State Building on Monday morning.
“It is up to everyone to play their part; women’s rights are not only women’s business. Men and boys are finally taking their place as partners in this battle.” - UN Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon
The secretary-general attended the ceremony in midtown New York where he was joined by American actress Teri Hatcher, his wife Yoo Soon-taek, and Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, executive director of the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) for a ceremony to “flip the switch” ahead of the Empire State Building’s illumination Monday night.
“Orange YOUR Neighborhood” is part of the secretary-general’s campaign UNiTE to End Violence against Women, which runs between Nov 25 and Dec 10.
The hashtags #Orangeurhood and #16days are being used to raise awareness on social media.
To raise awareness and trigger action to end the global scourge of violence against women and girls, the UN observes International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on Nov. 25.
One in three woman have experienced physical or sexual violence
Sobering numbers show that one in three women have experienced physical or sexual violence, mostly by an intimate partner; about 120 million girls have been forced into intercourse or other sexual acts at some point in their lives; and 133 million women and girls have undergone female genital mutilation.
Ending violence against women is one of UN Women’s key priorities, with myriad programs to address the pandemic globally.
N Women also coordinates the UN secretary-general’s UNiTE campaign, supports widespread social mobilization through its Say NO – UNiTE social media platforms on Facebook and Twitter, and manages the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women.
Despite recent progress, violence continues to plague one billion women worldwide.
According to UN- Women, among all women killed in 2012, nearly half died at the hands of a partner or family member. And far too often, crimes go unpunished and perpetrators walk free.
This year alone, more than 200 girls have been kidnapped in Nigeria, and we have seen graphic testimony from Iraqi women of rape and sexual slavery during the conflict there, Ban said.
And in the United States, there have been high-profile cases of sexual violence involving sports teams and on university campuses.
And many other cases go unreported and unpunished, Ban added.
“This is outrageous, and it must stop,” the secretary-general declared, calling for an end to the “mindsets and traditions that encourage, ignore or tolerate violence.”
The campaign to end violence against women calls on everyone around the world to display the color orange to symbolize their commitment and hope for a safe future for all women.
People will tie orange ribbons on landmarks. Marchers dressed in orange will raise awareness and discuss community-wide solutions.
“We need this eye-catching color everywhere so that the message is loud and clear: we all need to work together to stop violence against women and girls right now,” said Mlambo-Ngcuka in an earlier press release.
Source: Aware, Xinhua, Twitter
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