United Nations Radio

Hollywood movie star and UNIFEM goodwill ambassador, Nicole Kidman came to the United Nations on Tuesday to invite people to visit a web site where they can add their name in support of the campaign "Say No to Violence Against Women".

Ms. Kidman said the campaign has already collected 200,000 signatures, but is aiming for ten million.

"Today, from the United Nations, I want to encourage people of all nations to unite behind our call to end violence against women. Invite friends, colleagues to sign on to the campaign, which is saynotoviolence.org."

UN Deputy Secretary-General, Asha Rose Migiro said violence against women is probably the most pervasive human rights violation, affecting one in three women.

"In an increasing number of cases we have been horrified by reports from countries, where rape has been used as a method of warfare. For too long, the world has been silent about these horrific abuses."

Ms. Migiro said UNIFEM's Internet initiative makes an important contribution to raising awareness of the multi-year campaign to end violence against women launched by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in February. That campaign will run until 2015, with the goal of galvanizing world public opinion to ensure action by policy makers at the highest level.

Reporting for UN Radio, I'm Bissera Kostova.

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