Department of Public Information

The International Women's Day in 2009 was used to highlight the campaign, with the theme of “Women and Men United to End Violence against Women and Girls.” DPI carried out promotional activities and media outreach to promote the day at UN Headquarters and around the world, including the dissemination of information materials and press conferences. DPI also facilitated the placement of op-eds by the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner for Human Rights for International Women's Day; these were published in major publications in all regions, particularly Europe, North America and Latin America. The Secretary-General’s message for International Women's Day was picked up in articles in the international press. Hide

DPI worked to promote the Secretary-General's Campaign, focusing on raising awareness of violence against women globally; mobilizing public opinion to urge decision-makers to implement or change policies, in order to end violence against women; and generating awareness about the role of the United Nations in efforts to end violence against women. DPI’s network of UN Information Centres (UNICs) actively participated in promoting the Campaign at the national and regional levels, including through work with governments, students and civil society. UNICs organized media workshops, panel discussions, performances, photography and art exhibits, as well as film screenings. DPI also worked to further develop a visual identity for the campaign, as well as a campaign slogan and poster, a campaign ideas brochure, and a brochure setting out the campaign’s Framework for Action. The campaign website was updated on a regular basis in the six official UN languages.A segment on domestic violence, entitled Austria: Showing the Red Card, was completed for the “21st Century” television series, and new radio programmes on ending violence against women and promoting gender equality were produced. Hide

On 17 November 2008, the Secretary-General appointed Academy Award-winning actress Charlize Theron as United Nations Messenger of Peace, tasked with promoting efforts to end violence against women. DPI facilitated a press conference in New York to announce the appointment, in which Ms. Theron participated. The event had extensive media coverage. DPI also undertook activities to promote the campaign on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Hide

DPI provided communications support for the launch of the Secretary-General’s Campaign “UNiTE to end violence against women”, on 25 February 2008, including generating awareness about the role of the United Nations in efforts to end violence against women. DPI coordinated an inter-agency communications group and produced multimedia information materials on the issue. Guidance on the campaign was disseminated to field offices to ensure that the communications campaign is prioritized. The Department’s network of UN Information Centres (UNICs), based in over 60 countries, participated in promoting the launch. DPI created a website in the official languages for the launch (www.endviolence.un.org); it issued press releases; it produced several radio stories for the campaign; and highlighted inter-agency efforts to address violence against women. The News Centre, a website for journalists worldwide, issued multiple stories which were picked up by the press. DPI provided live coverage of the launch of the campaign, along with the noon press briefing and the lunchtime panel discussion. The i-Seek Intranet site highlighted the Secretary-General’s Campaign and violence against women issues.Substantial media coverage was generated by the launch of the campaign in the international and regional press. The launch was also covered extensively by influential wire services and national media as well.Along with the broadcast network HBO, DPI co-sponsored film screenings at New York’s New School in April 2008, and included a panel discussion on sexual violence. UNTV produced several television stories that were offered to broadcasters through its series “UN in Action” and “21st Century”, including features on violence against women in Nepal, women’s rights in Rwanda and female infanticide in India. DPI’s quarterly journal UN Chronicle published a story on UNIFEM’s partnership with Avon in order to raise money to fight violence against women. Africa Renewal carried in-depth stories on violence against women focusing on Africa. More than 30 stories were also featured on the high-traffic UN News Centre website, including “Ban leads call for greater efforts to end ‘silent war’ of sexual violence in conflict” and “Time to turn commitment to ending gender-based violence into action – Migiro”. Hide

UNTV produced several stories that were offered to broadcasters through their series “UN in Action” and “21st Century”, including features on honour killings in Turkey, domestic violence in Nepal and the prevalence of rape in Burundi. UN Radio produced various stories which included attention to violence against women, including in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Iraq. A dozen stories were featured on the high-traffic UN NewsCentre website, with headlines ranging from “When women are empowered, all of society benefits – Migiro,” to “Sexual violence against women in DR Congo amounts to war crime: UN expert”. Several press releases highlighted the seriousness of the issue, including the visit of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, Yakin Ertürk, to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Outreach Division, through the New York Festival/UN DPI Awards, has been encouraging filmmakers to publicize this issue by granting awards to several films highlighting women’s conditions globally. Hide

In November 2007, to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, DPI’s Development Section worked in collaboration with UNIFEM to produce an e-mail campaign. The UN Information Centres mobilized civil society partners to focus on the issue, particularly around the International Day and the campaign ’16 days of activism against gender violence’. Several Information Centres, including those in Asunción, Bogotá, Baku, Cairo, Lima, and Lusaka, developed special campaigns and radio and television programmes, and held press conferences, seminars and educational forums. Africa Renewal magazine issued an article on the realities faced by millions of African women, also noting grassroots work to address violence against women;[ this article is also being offered for placement in regional newspapers]. Hide