November 27, 2008	Thursday	Ziqa'ad 28, 1429

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 26: More than five million people around the world have sent a clear and unequivocal message to their governments to take decisive action in stopping the relentless cycle of violence against women, at the conclusion of an Internet-based United Nations campaign on Tuesday.

The UN Development Fund for Women launched its ‘Say no to violence against women’ awareness-raising campaign last year, calling upon governments to make the ending of violence against women a top priority.

The initiative amassed more than five million names on its website petition, easily surpassing its original target of one million signatures.

Academy-award winning actress and Unifem Goodwill Ambassador Nicole Kidman presented the signatures to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at a ceremony at the UN Headquarters.

“Women are abused at home, trafficked across borders or [become] victim to widespread and systematic sexual violence in conflict,” Ms Kidman told reporters before the ceremony. “As long as one in three women and girls may be abused in their lifetimes, violence against women must be everybody’s business.”

She added that the document containing the campaign signatures was “a start” in the push to force “decision-makers” to implement laws, educate both men and women, and provide the protection, health and legal services needed in the fight to eliminate violence against women.

“Through Say NO, people in the farthest corners of the world have become engaged. This is a large new constituency that we will continue to evolve and mobilise in the years to come,” said Unifem executive director Inés Alberdi.

Heads of State and ministers representing 60 governments joined more than 600 parliamentarians from over 70 countries in adding their names as a public expression of commitment to tackling the problem.

“This high-level support for the issue is crucial,” said Ms. Alberdi. “Without strong political will, there will be no decisive action.”