Prioritizing Gender-Based Violence

Ending gender-based violence should be and is a top UN priority, stated Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro yesterday. Via UN News Center:

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‘Together we can end this terrible human rights abuse,’ Ms. Migiro told an event in New York on violence against women, organized by San Marino and the Council of Europe.

Stopping gender-based violence is at the top of the UN’s agenda, Ms. Migiro noted, recalling that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched in March a multi-year global campaign bringing together the UN, governments and civil society to try to end the horrific crime.

‘That call energized many advocates who have long been working to stop violence against women. Now our challenge is to build on this momentum so that we can translate passionate commitment into concrete progress,’ she stated.

She says that while the UN’s efforts are “gaining speed,” mentioning that the Trust Fund to End Violence against Women has tripled in donor funding, the organization’s goal is to get a minimum of $100 million in annual contributions to the Trust Fund by 2015.

Let’s hope they hit their mark – the world’s women certainly need it.