Bangkok--24 Nov--UN
Asia-Pacific Regional Launch of the Secretary-General’s Campaign “UNiTE toEnd Violence against Women”
H.R.H. Princess Bajrakitiyabha and H.E. Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva, PrimeMinister of Thailand to Grace Regional Campaign Launch
The United Nations Asia-Pacific Regional Coordination Mechanism Working Group on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, in cooperation with the Royal Thai Government, is organizing the Asia-Pacific Regional Launch of the United Nations Secretary-General’s UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign, on Thursday, 25 November 2010 at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok.
The launch coincides with the annual observance of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
Asia-Pacific UNiTE aims to raise public awareness and increase political commitment and action to end violence against women and girls in the Asia and Pacific region by 2015. UNiTE calls on Governments, civil society, women’s organizations, young people, the private sector, the media, the entire UN system and individual women and men to join forces in addressing the global pandemic of violence against women and girls. The Launch will be followed by a programme of activities at the regional and national levels aimed at mobilizing support and ensuring that the campaign succeeds in bringing about social change.
Violence against women and girls takes many forms, which may affect them from before birth to old age — physical, sexual, psychological and economic. According to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, up to 70 per cent of women experience violence in their lifetime.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
You or your representatives are cordially invited to attend the event which will take place from 14:00 to 15:30 hours on Thursday 25 November 2010 at ESCAP Hall of the United Nations Conference Centre, Rajadamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok. The programme is attached for your information.
Due to security reason, please arrive by 13:00 to allow security check.
Please bring your ID from your media organization.
For more information on the UNiTE Campaign, visit:
http://www.un.org/en/women/endviolence/index.shtml
For further information, please contact:
Wanphen Sreshthaputra, Social Development Division, United Nations
ESCAPTel: +66 2 288 1586, Cell: + 66 81 824 38 25, E-mail:
[email protected]
Alice Ruxton, UNIFEM (part of UN Women) East and Southeast Asia Regional
OfficeTel: + 66-2-288 22 16, Cell: + 66 80 610 28 34, E-mail:
[email protected]
Thawadi Pachariyangkun, UN ESCAP Information Services, Tel: + 66-2-288 1861, Cell: + 66 81 835 8647, E-mail:
[email protected] and
[email protected]
Provisional Programme
1. Opening presentation
2. Welcoming statement on behalf of the UN system
3. Statement by H.E. Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva, Prime Minister of Thailand
4. Video messages from leaders across the Asia-Pacific region
5. Statement by HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha, UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador
for the Say NO to Violence Against Women Campaign and Programme in
Thailand
6. Presentation of actions gathered under the say NO campaign by HRH
Princess Bajrakitiyabha to the UN
7. Launch of the Asia-Pacific Regional Component of the
Secretary-General's UNiTE Campaign to End Violence against Women
8. Inauguration of the exhibition in the Reception Hall