UN Women Goodwill Ambassador Nicole Kidman and UN Women Acting Head Lakshmi Puri are to receive awards from the Cinema for Peace Foundation today. They will be honoured at an evening event in Berlin, Germany. The Government of Germany is among UN Women's leading donors.
"Women represent half of humanity, and of its potential. Yet around the world women are still deprived of a life free from discrimination and violence. We applaud the establishment of UN Women as a global champion for women and girls," said the Board of the Cinema for Peace Foundation in its decision to honour UN Women and its Goodwill Ambassador. "Nicole Kidman has helped give a voice to countless women who are survivors of gender-based violence. She is a role model for others."
Nicole Kidman was appointed as
UN Women Goodwill Ambassador to promote women's rights worldwide. A strong focus of her efforts has been on ending violence against women. Ms. Kidman has served as the international spokesperson for UN Women's "
Say NO - UNiTE to End Violence against Women" initiative, and has travelled to meet with survivors of sexual violence and raise attention to this pervasive human rights violation worldwide.
Speaking on the issue and her engagement as UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, Nicole Kidman said: "I have learned much about the horrific scope of violence against women around the world and seen its devastating impact. When I first learned that one in three women and girls experience violence in their lifetime, I was utterly shocked. Much of my work for UN Women has since been dedicated to this issue."
Cinema for Peace has since 2001 served as a forum to bring together internationally renowned figures from the fields of film, politics and society to raise awareness on humanitarian issues. Assistant Secretary-General and UN Women Acting Head Lakshmi Puri expressed her appreciation for the Foundation's work and award, stressing the need for strong partnerships in light of the persistent challenges for women's empowerment and gender equality.
"There is so much to do. Right now, we are looking to Egypt where UN Women has supported women since the early stages of the democratic transition. At this crucial juncture, women must be part of a peaceful and democratic dialogue to determine the country's future," added Ms. Puri. "In Syria, too, women must fully take part in the mediation and reconciliation process. UN Women is an advocate and supporter of women there so this can happen."
Today's event will welcome guests representing politics, private sector and entertainment. Fatou Bensouda, Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court; Bianca Jagger, Ambassador for the Council of Europe; and German actress Veronica Ferres will present the awards.
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