April 26, 2024 21:31 (IST)
Follow us:
Ban launches video campaign to end sexual violence
New York, Jun 4 (IBNS): Speaking at the launch of a video campaign on ending sexual violence through gender equality, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Tuesday that it is time to demand action to eliminate a scourge that harms millions of women and girls around the world.
“I am here to declare with all of you: it is time to act,” Ban said, speaking alongside his Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Zainab Hawa Bangura, and the Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.
The launch of the video campaign was organized by the Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom to the UN and comes ahead of a global summit to be held next week on the issue.
The Secretary-General decried recent attacks against women and girls around the world. “I was especially appalled by the brutal rape and gruesome murder of two teenaged women in India who had ventured out because they did not have access to a toilet,” he said.
“Violence against women is a peace and security issue. It is a human rights issue. It is a development issue,” he added.
He highlighted a personal hero, Dr. Denis Mukwege, a Congolese gynecologist, who repairs the internal physical damage caused by rape.
“Dr. Mukwege says sexual violence continues because of indifference, as if the crimes happen to someone else,” Ban recalled. “But really it happened to one of us. We all belong to the same family of human society,” he said, quoting Dr. Mukwege.
In March, Ban launched the “He for She” campaign urging men to stand up for the rights of their mothers, sisters and daughters. The network includes top government officials, artists and business representatives.
In the video launched on Tuesday, Ban urged men in particular to join the fight for gender equality, saying it is the collective responsibility to shield women and girls from the violence that harms them and degrades all.
“Together, we can ensure that conflicts are not fought on the bodies of innocent civilians,” he stated.
(Hundreds of thousands of women displaced by conflict and living in camps in Somalia are especially vulnerable to sexual and gender-based violence, having lost their families and homes. Photo: OCHA/R. Maingi)
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Latest Headlines
Six Frontier Corps personnel hurt in IED blast Fri, Apr 26 2024
Gilgit-Baltistan’s Diamer Bhasha Dam protesters block Karakoram Highway over compensation Fri, Apr 26 2024
Missing Baloch man’s body recovered from Sibi, locals claim Pakistani Army men forcibly took him away Fri, Apr 26 2024
EU raids offices of Chinese security equipment maker Nuctech Fri, Apr 26 2024
United States House of Representatives members assure closer bilateral ties with Taiwan amid Chinese pressure Fri, Apr 26 2024
Syria crisis intensifies in shadow of Gaza war Fri, Apr 26 2024
Gaza: Heatwave brings new misery and disease risk to Rafah Fri, Apr 26 2024
Gender therapy review reveals devastating impacts on teens Fri, Apr 26 2024