UN launches 'Orange the World' campaign
United Nations launched 'Orange the World' campaign, a call to galvanise support for global action to end violence against women and girls. As part of this, India Gate and Delhi Metro will join hundreds of monuments across the world that will be illuminated in orange. Messages of ending violence against women will be displayed on panel boards in two high-traffic lines of Delhi Metro.
1 in 3 women experience physical or sexual violence, mostly by an intimate partner. In 2012, a study in Delhi found that 92 % of women reported having experienced some form of sexual violence in public spaces in their lifetime and 88% experienced some form of verbal sexual harassment 4.5 million people are victims of forced sexual exploitation and 98% of them are female.
The goal 5 of United Nations '2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development' aims to end all forms of discrimination against women and girls. It recognizes violence against women as an obstacle to fully achieving the agenda.
UN Secretary-General's UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign was launched in 2008. It aims to raise public awareness and increase political will and resources for preventing and ending all forms of violence against women and girls in all parts of the world. UNiTE brings together a host of UN agencies and through it UN also joins forces with individuals, civil society and governments.
Orange the World campaign is a part of UN Secretary-General's 'UNiTE to end violence against women' campaign, led by UN Women. As a bright and optimistic colour, orange represents a future free from violence against women and girls, for the UNiTE Campaign. This will be carried out during the '16 days of activism against gender-based violence campaign' from 25 Nov to 10 Dec.
Globally, during the fortnight under the 'Orange the world' call, over 450 events are planned in more than 70 countries throughout the 16 days. They include the lighting of major monuments and numerous activities involving civil society such as dialogue sessions with faith-based leaders, film screenings, theatre and dance performances, rallies, marches, marathons and digital activism via social media platforms.
The United Nations General Assembly has designated November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. It also marks the start of the "16 Days of Activism" that precedes Human Rights Day on December 10 each year.
Lighting of major landmarks in orange for the event on 25 Nov include the Niagara Falls (Canada/USA), the European Commission building (Belgium) and Council of Europe building (France), the Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen (Denmark), the archaeological ruins at Petra (Jordan), and the Palais de Justice (Democratic Republic of the Congo).
