Resources for International Women's Day - March 8,2009

March 03, 2009

In recognition of the International Women’s Day (8 March 2009), the Gender-Net team, in collaboration with UNIFEM, would like to provide you with a collection of advocacy materials to help promote and celebrate the International Day. This year's theme “Women and Men United to End Violence against Women and Girls” gives an opportunity to raise awareness worldwide of violence against women and girls, and the efforts to end gender based violence.

Violence against women and girls continues unabated in every continent, country and culture. It takes a devastating toll on women’s lives, on their families, and on society as a whole. Most societies prohibit such violence — yet the reality is that too often, it is covered up or tacitly condoned. — UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, 8 March 2007

International Women's Day (IWD) is a major day of global celebration for the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. The first IWD was run in 1911 and in some countries, such as Russia, Brazil and China, the day is celebrated as an official holiday.

Resources

Women Watch: International Women's Day (IWD)
Facts & Figures on Violence Against Women Violence against women and girls is a problem of pandemic proportions. At least one out of every three women around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime — with the abuser usually someone known to her. Perhaps the most pervasive human rights violation that we know today, it devastates lives, fractures communities, and stalls development.
UNiTE to End Violence against Women On 25 February 2008, the UN Secretary-General launched the Campaign UNiTE to End Violence against Women, 2008-2015, with the overall objective of raising public awareness and increasing political will and resources for preventing and responding to all forms of violence against women and girls – in all parts of the world. The Framework for Action provides an overall “umbrella” for the efforts to be undertaken at global, regional, national and local levels. It identifies five key outcomes as benchmarks for the Campaign, to be achieved in all countries by 2015, and outlines a UN Programme of Activities and expected Outputs.
UNIFEM’s Say NO to Violence against Women global advocacy campaign supports Secretary-General'scampaign and aims to demonstrate that there is a global movement of people who demand that ending violence against women be a top priority for governments. More than five million people have joined in the campaign including high-level government representatives around the world.
International Women's Day at UN Cyber School Bus
UNDP America Latina Genera: No Violencia Contra Mujer - Advocacy Materials in Spanish
UNIFEM Oficina Regional Para Mexico, Centroamerica, Cuba y Republica Dominicana - Advocacy Materials in Spanish
Campanha 16 Dias de Ativismo - Advocacy Materials in Portuguese
UNIFEM Australia: International Women's Day
Logos of International Women's Day
Photos of InternationalWomen's Day
IWD Country Events

Speeches

The Secretary-General Statement- Elimination of Violence Against Women - 25 November 2008 - The Secretary-General of the United Nations reminds all of us – men and women, soldiers and peacekeepers, citizens and leaders – that we have a responsibility to help end violence against women in his statement for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Posters

UNIFEM South Asia Office: posters include domestic violence, rape, and UN Joint Regional Programme, Asia Pacific 2008-2011, "Partners for Prevention: Working with Boys and Men to Prevent Gender-based Violence"