From the sidelines to the centre 

Hardly a day goes by without a news story on some violation of women’s rights. In recent months, appalling incidents of violence against women and girls, from Delhi to Johannesburg to Cleveland, have sparked public outrage and demands to tackle these horrific abuses. 

In Bangladesh and Cambodia, the shocking loss of life by garment factory workers, many of them women, sparked global debate on how to secure safe and decent jobs in our globalized economy. In Europe, the disproportionate impact on women of austerity cuts, and the use of quotas to get more women on corporate boards continue to make headlines.

As work continues to eliminate the scourge of violence against women, there is need to increase the messengers to ensure all the cultural custodians are speaking out.

Speaking in support of the of the International Women’s Day theme, “A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women”, Acting Director of UN Women, Joan French stressed that the United Nations Secretary-General’s UNiTE Campaign gives a framework for collective action to end gender based violence.

“It doesn’t speak only to UN agencies. No, it calls on all of us to take responsibility, to stand up speak out and take action…