International Women’s
Day Marks Effort to End Violence
Against Women and Girls
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March
8, 2007) – Speaking at a luncheon hosted
by the United Nations Foundation, the UN Information
Center, and the Women’s Foreign Policy Group,
Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations
Department of Peacekeeping Operations Jane Holl
Lute celebrated International Women’s Day
and urged the audience to work together to end
violence against women and girls worldwide. Luncheon
speakers also included Kathy Bushkin Calvin of
the United Nations Foundation and Washington Post
Diplomatic Correspondent Nora Boustany.
“Today is the
day to remind ourselves that we all have a role
in making the world a better place by ensuring
that girls can grow up in a safe and secure environment,
without fear of violence or exploitation, and
that women have the opportunities they need to
prosper as individuals and support their families
and communities,” said Calvin, United Nations
Foundation executive vice president. “When
girls are educated, healthy, and financially literate,
they are a cornerstone of successful societies.
We can break the poverty cycle by supporting women
and girls.”
“Violence against women is the most
common but least punished crime in the world,”
said Will Davis, director of the United Nations
Information Center. “The Secretary-General
said it best today, ‘Empowering women is
not only a goal in itself. It is a condition for
building better lives for everyone on the planet.’”
The theme of this International Women’s
Day this year is “Ending Impunity for Violence
against Women and Girls.” The website of
the United Nations Foundation’s Better World
Campaign (www.betterworldcampaign.org)
is featuring ways in which the UN helps improve
the lives of women and girls. The Foundation’s
“The People Speak” (www.thepeoplespeak.org)
campaign is running a “Who Inspires You?”
feature that includes responses from a diverse
group of women including Queen Rania of Jordan
and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Note to the editor: A webcast of Jane Holl Lute’s
presentation “Peacekeeping: Protecting Peace,
Protecting People” will be available at
both www.unfoundation.org
and www.betterworldcampaign.org.
About the United Nations Foundation The UN Foundation was created in 1998
with entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner’s
historic $1 billion gift to support UN causes
and activities. The UN Foundation builds and implements
public-private partnerships to address the world’s
most pressing problems and also works to broaden
support for the UN through advocacy and public
outreach. The UN Foundation is a public charity.
For a complete listing of UN Foundation grants
and programs or to learn more about the United
Nations Foundation, visit www.unfoundation.org.
