#HearMeToo Campaign ‘Champions of Equality’ 16 Days of Activism to fight Gender-Based Violence
Get to know the 16 Voices of Change!
Kabul, 14th November 2018. The UN Family in Afghanistan announced today the winners of Champions for Gender Equality, an initiative to award 16 best campaign ideas that will mark the celebrations of the 16 Days of Activism to fight Gender-Based Violence.
During the official ceremony, the Country Representative of WHO, Dr.Richard Peeperkorn, accompanied by Country Representatives from other UN programmes and agencies based in Afghanistan, congratulated the 16 winners reminding them that violence against women and girls remains one of the most widespread and persistent human rights violations around the world. “One in three women and girls around the world experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. This is largely unreported due to impunity, silence, shame and stigma surrounding it.” Dr.Peeperkorn reiterated UN’s commitment to end gender-based violence, “Initiatives like the 16 days of Activism reflect our commitment…the UN system and partners across all sectors are supporting survivor advocates, women’s movements and women’s human rights defenders in ending systematic violence against women and girls. ”
The 16 awardees including returned refugees, 9 females and 6 male, coming from the different regions of the country, will contribute to amplify the voices of the diverse women’s movements, civil society groups and the United Nations to prevent and end violence against women and girls. To that end, they will be awarded with a financial contribution (1000 USD for awardee and activity) to implement the ideas designed to promote gender equality and empowerment.
“I would like to use this opportunity to do a photo story campaign to show Afghan men and women that it is normal and beneficial for women to work and serve her people.” Says one of the winners, Faiz Ahmad Sidaq, street photographer, “It is unfortunate that many women and girls in Afghanistan are still denied of their rights to be educated and employed, and I would like to show that we can make a difference for not only women and but all Afghans.”
Launched by the UN a decade ago, the UNITE Orange the World Campaign to end violence against women aims to raise awareness around the globe as well as to increase policy making and resources around this issue.
The 2018 campaign, under the global banner Orange the World: #HearMeToo calls on the UN system and partners across all sectors to support survivor advocates, women’s movements and women’s human rights defenders in ending systemic violence against women and girls.
The UN family welcomes the recent efforts by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan which include the adoption a new law on the elimination of harassment against women and children that improves the legal framework protecting women and girls at home or at work. In 2018, around 15,000 Gender Based Violence (GBV) survivors received health, legal and social support.
The #HearMeToo campaign will begin on 25th November, on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and will end on 10th December, on Human Rights Day.
For more information, please contact UN-Habitat’s Head of Communications in Afghanistan, Mr. Koussay Boulaich,