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23 May 2013
A Global Goal on Gender Equality, Womens Rights and Womens Empowerment
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…
Bridgetown, Barbados: UN Women Caribbean Office observed the 2013 International Women's Day with a celebrationof culture and art in recognition of their significance in the efforts to end violence against women and girls.
The event which was hosted in collaboration with the umbrella women's organisation in Barbados - the National Organisation of Women featured the launch of UN Women's song "One Woman" (sponsored by Microsoft) and the works of visual artists Versia Harris, Nyssa Haynes-Holder and Sheena Rose and guest speaker, Methodist Minister, Reverend Marlene Britton-Walfall.