UN #orangetheworld campaign aims to eliminate violence against women

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The United Nations wants to end violence against women. It is bringing attention to the problem during International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

GCTN’s Nick Harper reports the campaign runs through December 10, International Human Rights Day.

One in three women worldwide have experienced physical or sexual violence.

"The idea behind it is to make people aware of the pandemic we have in the world against women, the violence that exists against women every day," Maria Noel Vaeza, Program Division Director for UN Women said.

The UN is using the hashtag #orangetheworld and encouraging people to wear orange.

UN Photo

Landmarks will be lit up orange.

The 16-day campaign aims to raise awareness and support.

"We want to bring all this together in these 16 days. It’s not just the harassment in the street, but it is all these girls who were suffering for life, and are not given the opportunity," Vaeza said.

The UN estimates 750 million women were married before their 18th birthday. 120 million girls have been raped, or forced to perform sexual acts. And at least 200 million have undergone female genital mutilation.

Reuters Photo‍

The ‘International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women’ marks the assassination of the Mirabal sisters in the Dominican Republic in 1960.

The civil rights activists were killed for fighting against the repressive rule of dictator Rafael Trujillo.