UN calls on corporate sector to help eliminate violence against women
(November 24, 2010) The United Nations has made a strong call for the elimination
of violence against women. The corporate sector must engage more closely in the fight
against the global pandemic of violence against women and girls, UN Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon said on Tuesday, stressing the importance role of business leaders in
eliminating the scourge. Ban’s comments came during an address at UN headquarters
in New York to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against
Women, which is observed annually on 25 November. “Today is a call to action – action
to eliminate Violence against Women,” he said. “More and more people realize that
gender-based violence is everybody’s problem and that everybody is responsible for
stopping it.” This year’s International Day focuses on promoting leadership by
the corporate sector in ending gender-based violence, a theme Ban emphasized in his
meeting with a number of business partners. He also used the occasion to highlight
his ‘UNiTE to End Violence against Women’ campaign. Launched by the Secretary-General
in 2008, the campaign calls for all countries to put in place strong laws, action
plans, preventive measures, data collection, and systematic efforts to address sexual
violence by 2015.