UN contest for best campaign to end violence against women opens for voting

(July 20, 2011)Public voting is under way in a United Nations contest, aimed at finding the best advertising campaign to promote awareness in Europe about the battle to defeat gender-based violence, which affects more than two out of every three women worldwide. More than 2,700 entries from 40 European countries, prepared by both creative professionals and ordinary members of the public, have been submitted in the contest. Three winners will be selected, either by a seven-member jury of experts or by votes from Internet users. One of the three prizes being awarded in the “VOTE to Say No – UNiTE to End Violence against Women” competition, will go to the campaign which receives the most public votes: Internet users have until 31 July to vote.
The competition is an initiative of the UN Regional Informational Centre for Western Europe in Brussels, other UN Information Centres across Europe and the UN Entity for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment. The contest is designed to boost the global effort to end violence against women.
“Joining in the efforts to stop violence is everybody’s responsibility. Governments, private enterprises, civil society groups, communities and individual citizens can all make essential contributions. Men and boys must be active in encouraging respect for women and zero tolerance for violence,” said Michelle Bachelet, the Executive Director of UN Women.
According to the UN, up to 70 per cent of women have experienced violence at some point in their lives. The extent of the problem prompted Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to launch the global campaign “UNiTE to End Violence against Women” in 2008.)