VIENNA, 25 November 2024 – Spanning a period of 16 days, from theInternational Day for the Elimination of Violence against Womenon 25 November until Human Rights Day on 10 December, the Orange the World Campaign calls on people around the world to take a stand against violence against women and girls.
According to UN Women and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), every ten minutes, a woman is killed by a partner or family member. This highlights how violence against women remains widespread and universal across borders, socioeconomic status and age groups. In his message, United Nations Secretary General António Guterres called for a joint effort to end this scourge of violence.
The kick-off event started with a panel discussion at the Vienna International Centre (VIC), moderated by UNIS Vienna Director Martin Nesirky and opened by John Brandolino, Director of the Division of Treaty Affairs at UNODC and Annika Markovic, Ambassador of Sweden to Austria and Slovakia and Permanent Representative to the International Organizations in Vienna. Ambassador Markovic who had initiated the event stressed: “Gender-based violence is not just a violation of individual rights but a great societal injustice that affects us all, across communities, nations and generations.”
The panellists represented a broad range of experts, including Simon Brezina, Project Manager in the field of violence prevention at the civil society organization White Ribbon Austria, Helene Gressenbauer-Rösner, President of UN Women Austria, Darrin Jones, Executive Director at Interpol, Nicole Krejci, Managing Director at the Violence Protection Centre Vienna and Hanna Sands, Gender Advisor and Programme Coordinator at UNODC. The panellists offered insights on the important work of their organizations. Examples include White Ribbon’s gender talks, INTERPOL’s focus on women’s safety, and the Violence Protection Center’s support to families who have suffered from femicide.
After the discussion, the participants were invited to take part in the so-called Orange Run: a symbolic six kilometres run from the Vienna International Centre to the Embassy of Sweden at Schwedenhaus. Around 50 runners showed their solidarity and support by wearing orange, to represent a future free from violence. In honour of the campaign, the mural ‘Woman with Dove’ on one of the VIC towers was illuminated in orange. The lighting-up of the street artwork continued for the duration of the 16 days of activism.
The evening ended at the Embassy of Sweden, where the participants gathered to reflect on the day’s theme. The event marked an important step in raising awareness for the Orange the World Campaign 2024, reminding us that violence against women and girls is preventable and a world free of violence is possible.
