Look To The Stars News: UNIFEM

Sting To Be Honored At Clinton Global Initiative

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Bill Clinton has announced the program and featured attendees for the seventh Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) to be held September 20-22 in New York City.

This year’s gathering will bring together an estimated 1,200 diverse stakeholders, including current and former heads of state, Fortune 500 CEOs, national and local government officials, and leaders from the nonprofit sector to devise and implement workable solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

“Since we began in 2005, CGI members have made great progress in addressing critical global issues by making more than 2,000 commitments through CGI that have and will improve the lives of more than 300 million people in more than 180 countries,” President Clinton said. “As many of these commitments come to fruition, I am proud that we will be showcasing the tangible impact they have made.”

Nicole Kidman Makes Charity Trip To Haiti With UNIFEM

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Nicole Kidman was in Haiti last week to call for the urgent need to address gender-based violence among affected populations, and stressed the critical need to support long-term initiatives that advance women’s livelihoods as part of the rebuilding efforts.

Joined by UNIFEM Executive Director Inés Alberdi, Kidman met with survivors of violence living in a temporary camp, with Haitian and UN officials, and with national non-governmental organizations working to support women’s needs in recovery efforts after the devastating earthquake.

Nicole Kidman Visits Hong Kong For UNIFEM

Fri, 21 May 2010 15:00:00 +0000

The United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)‘s Goodwill Ambassador Nicole Kidman raised more than US$175,000 last night for programs to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment in China at “A Night With The Stars” in Hong Kong.

Attended by more than 200 guests, the charity fundraiser took place during her first visit to Hong Kong, and was organized in cooperation with the luxury watch manufacturer OMEGA. The event also featured a private concert by Nicole Kidman’s husband, Grammy Award–winning singer Keith Urban.

“I feel passionately about support for UNIFEM because the work to empower women and advance their human rights is so important,” said Nicole Kidman. “Together with OMEGA we are in Hong Kong to raise awareness and also vital funding for UNIFEM’s projects in China.”

Geena Davis Meets With UNIFEM Australia

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 12:30:00 +0000

Geena Davis was in Australia last week to discuss ways to empower women and promote gender equality with UNIFEM.

Globally, UNIFEM is partnering with Geena Davis in an effort to change the way media represents women and girls, both in terms of increasing the number of women and girls in the media and presenting them in a more positive way, and to encourage media to present and investigate issues of importance to women.

During the meetings, the Australian government announced it will provide $300,000 to the UNIFEM Pacific Fund to End Violence Against Women.

Nicole Kidman Breaks Ground To Combat Violence Against Women

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:30:00 +0000

Actress and Goodwill Ambassador Nicole Kidman helped to break ground on Friday on a new centre located in San Francisco to combat violence against women, part of an initiative between the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and Family Violence Prevention Fund.

According to UNIFEM, data suggests that up to 70 per cent of women worldwide experience physical or sexual violence from men in their lifetime.

“There is no doubt that ending violence against women remains an urgent issue and belongs on centre stage,” says Ms. Kidman, who has served as Goodwill Ambassador for UNIFEM since January 2006.

Nicole Kidman Takes Anti-Violence Message To Kenya

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Nicole Kidman is reportedly to travel to Kenya to raise awareness of women affected by domestic violence.

 The Australian actress wants to tour the African country as part of an initiative launched by the United Nations Development Fund for Women. Kidman will visit the Kenyatta Hospital and a school this week as part of her role as a goodwill ambassador for the organization.
 

Nicole Kidman Takes Anti-Violence Message To Congress

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:30:00 +0000

United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) Goodwill Ambassador Nicole Kidman and Mallika Dutt, anti-violence group Breakthrough’s Executive Director, supported the call for a comprehensive approach by the United States to address ending violence against women yesterday.

Kidman and Dutt, speaking to members of the U.S. House of Representatives Sub-Committee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight, emphasized the urgency to invest in women, partner locally and provide resources for effective programs in developing countries.

They joined Ambassador for Women’s Global Issues Melanne Verveer, Congresswoman Janice D. Schakowsky, Vice-Chair of the Women’s Caucus, and former Congresswoman and President of Shared Hope International Linda Smith in supporting the International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA), which represents an unprecedented commitment by the U.S. government to create a comprehensive strategy to reduce violence in countries that have severe levels of violence against women and girls.

Reese Witherspoon Launches New Women's Empowerment Necklace

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Actress Reese Witherspoon has launched a new campaign to end violence against women.

The 32-year-old has launched the new Women’s Empowerment necklace, designed to save and improve women’s lives worldwide, at an event in Washington DC on Tuesday, March 3.

“Nearly a billion women worldwide are affected by violence,” she said during the launch. “The Empowerment Necklace is an easy way for all women to take action and demonstrate solidarity to reduce the worldwide epidemic of violence against women.”

Nicole Kidman Delivers Anti-Violence Petition To UN

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:00:00 +0000

Nicole Kidman has presented U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon with a petition that calls on world leaders to end impunity for perpetrators of violence against women, provide services for survivors and, most importantly, invest in prevention.

The petition was run online throughout this year and contained 5,066,549 names. UNIFEM Executive Director Ines Alberdi said the campaign’s supporters included 29 world leaders, 188 ministers and over 600 parliamentarians, and celebrities such as Hilary Swank and Bob Geldof.

“I think in some ways I’ve always been heading towards wanting to put some meaning into my life and this is probably how I see myself doing it,” said Kidman, who has been a UNIFEM Ambassador since 2006. “The reason I chose the subject of women is because I was raised by a mother who was very passionate about … having her daughters educated, and wanted her daughters to have an equal opportunity. I was the product of that, and now I’m out there hoping to pass on to the next generation and work in a greater capacity then just as an actress.”

Witherspoon Speaks Out In Brazil

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:30:00 +0000

Actress Reese Witherspoon visited the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo last week to show her dedication to ending violence against women.

The Legally Blonde star is the ambassador for Speak Out Against Domestic Violence, a joint campaign launched in 2004 by UNIFEM and Avon.

In March of this year she launched the campaign’s Women’s Empowerment Bracelet, an emblem in the fight against domestic violence, created to raise awareness about the need to speak out. Proceeds from the sale of the bracelets go to the Avon Empowerment Fund, which provides funding for UNIFEM and its UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women.

Nicole Kidman Pushes The Anti-Violence Point

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:23:30 +0000

Actress Nicole Kidman spoke out against violence towards women at UN Headquarters on Tuesday, and urged people to add their names to a website that calls on world leaders to end impunity for perpetrators, provide services for survivors and, most importantly, invest in prevention.

The 40-year-old, who is seven months pregnant, attended the news conference to encourage world leaders and the general public to join the global fight to end violence against women, what she calls the “most widespread human rights violation of our time.”

“One in three women will encounter violence in some way, shape or form against them in their lifetime,” said the heavily-pregnant Kidman. “That’s an extraordinary statistic. Yet do we ever hear it?”

Celebrities Bring Attention To UN Efforts

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 08:11:03 +0000

With the press watching their every move, more and more stars are making their moves count by sharing the spotlight with United Nations missions.

In the past months alone, actress Drew Barrymore pledged $1 million to the United Nations’ World Food Program to bring attention to rising food prices; actress and Avon Global Ambassador Reese Witherspoon began raising money for the United Nations Development Fund For Women for education, job training and better laws for underprivileged women; Bono raised an impressive $42 million at his (RED) charity auction for the United Nations Foundation AIDs programs; and actress and UNICEF spokeswoman Salma Hayek promoted her anti-tetanus campaign on Oprah.

Outspoken actress and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Mia Farrow uses her celebrity in ways that politicians might not, relentlessly reminding us of the tragic details of Dafur. Farrow says, “I’m completely free to say anything I want. I have no trade agreements with anyone.”

Reese Witherspoon Launches Campaign Against Domestic Violence

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 11:18:38 +0000

Legally Blonde actress Reese Witherspoon has launched a new UNIFEM campaign to end violence against women.

The Oscar winner is walking the line by promoting sales of the Women’s Empowerment Bracelet, which she hopes will raise awareness of domestic violence issues.

“Every economic opportunity created for a woman helps a child, helps a community, and raises awareness and education,” Witherspoon said in an interview with The Associated Press. “Women who feel economically empowered are much more likely to stand up for their own rights, and the rights of their children.”

Nicole Kidman Supports UNIFEM

Tue, 25 Dec 2007 10:04:49 +0000

After winning substantial libel damages from a British tabloid, Nicole Kidman plans to donate her compensation to the United Nations Development Fund For Women (UNIFEM). UNIFEM consider Kidman – a goodwill ambassador for them since January 2006 – a gift thanks to her visibility, voice and connections.

“Violence against women is an appalling human rights violation,” said Kidman during their Say NO to Violence Against Women campaign, launched last month in response to the ever-slow progress against abuses such as rape, household violence, trafficking and traditional practices. According to statistics, one in three women will experience violence in her lifetime.

The campaign invites people to add their names to www.saynotoviolence.org with the goal of getting enough signatures to put the issue on the global agenda. Although there are more and more legislative provisions addressing domestic violence today, implementation of laws and lack of resources is insufficient.

Kevin Bacon Launches “SixDegrees.org”

Tue, 23 Jan 2007 10:02:12 +0000

Kevin Bacon has launched SixDegrees.org, a new web site that builds on the popularity of the “small world phenomenon” to create a charitable social network and inspire giving to charities online.

Bacon started the network with celebrities who are highlighting their favorite charities – including Kyra Sedgwick (Natural Resources Defense Council), Nicole Kidman (UNIFEM), Ashley Judd (YouthAIDS), Bradley Whitford and Jane Kaczmarek (Clothes Off Our Back), Dana Delany (Scleroderma Research Foundation), Robert Duvall (Pro Mujer), Rosie O’Donnell (Rosie’s For All Kids Foundation), and Jessica Simpson (Operation Smile) – and he encouraged everyone to be celebrities for their own causes by joining the Six Degrees movement.