By Rositta Liosi – EMTV Online
The United Nations Secretary-General’s Campaign, “UNiTE to End Violence against Women”, is an annual international campaign which runs from 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) to 10 December (Human Rights Day).
The sixteen days starting from the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women to Human Rights Day is known as the ’16 Days Campaign.’
The initiative is used as an organising strategy by individuals and organisations around the world to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.
People from all parts of world take action in their communities, play their part and stand up against violence against women and girls.
The colour orange is the official colour of the UNiTE campaign, and symbolises a brighter future and a world free from violence against women and girls.
In 2014, as part of the initiative ‘Orange Your Neighbourhood: End Violence against Women’, ‘orange’ activities were organised in more than 70 countries around the world.
More than 100 million people were reached through social media sparking a global conversation, new commitments and initiatives.
To raise global awareness, iconic buildings around the world including the Empire State Building and the United Nations Headquarters Building in New York City, the administration building of the Panama Canal and the Sphinx and Pyramids at Giza in Egypt were ‘oranged.’
This year’s ‘Orange the World’ initiative will focus on the theme of preventing violence against women and girls, in the specific context of the adoption of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, which includes targets on ending violence against women and girls.
The aim this year is to keep the world orange throughout the 16 days of activism and call for political commitments to be matched with meaningful action and adequate resources to end violence against women and girls worldwide.
For further information visit the UN Women website and help step up efforts to end violence against women and girls.
