LOC22:59
19:59 GMT
NEW YORK, Nov 24 (KUNA) -- The Empire State Building and the UN building in New York will turn orange to raise awareness of the very serious subject of ending violence against women and girls, the UN Chief said on Monday.
At the Empire State Building, launching "Orange Your Neighbourhood" campaign, the Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced that this year alone, more than 200 girls have been kidnapped in Nigeria, and graphic testimony from Iraqi women of rape and sexual slavery during the conflict there.
"Every year, we mark November 25 with events to raise awareness of the global pandemic of violence against women, but still it continues, affecting at least one woman in three worldwide," he said.
Ban stressed that in the US, there have been high-profile cases of sexual violence involving sports teams and on university campuses, but many other cases go unreported and unpunished.
"This is outrageous, and it must stop," he asserted.
Women's rights are not only women's business, both men and boys are finally taking their place as partners in this battle.
Ban urged for a change to the everyday experience of women and girls.
Tonight, for the first time ever, both the iconic Empire State Building and UN Headquarters in New York will shine in orange light.
In Times Square, one of the world's most visited tourist attractions, the NASDAQ and Reuters Tower screens will flash the colour along with anti-violence messages tomorrow, in celebration of International Day to End Violence against Women.
At the lighting ceremony at the Empire state building for the Unite to end Violence against women campaign, Ban was accompanied by Actress Teri Hatcher and UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.
Mlambo-Ngcuka stressed the need to end this universal violation of human rights. "We know what works, now we are insisting on the commitment of political action and commensurate resources to that agenda," she added. (end)
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