UNIFEM and Avon Announce Partnership to End Violence Against Women and Advance Women's Empowerment: Company Contribution Benefits UN Trust Fund
04/03/2008 23:45
PR Newswire
NEW YORK, March 4 /PRNewswire/ --
- Reese Witherspoon and Suze Orman among the Featured Speakers at Global
Summit for Better Tomorrow in Celebration of International Women's Day-
- The Largest One-Year Corporate Contribution Ever Received by the Fund-
Today, UNIFEM, the United Nations Development Fund for Women, and Avon
Products, Inc. are announcing a public-private partnership to promote women's
empowerment and end violence against women. As a result, Avon is committing
US$1 million to the UNIFEM-managed UN Trust Fund to End Violence against
Women. The contribution will be made through the Avon Empowerment Fund, which
is being launched today as part of the new Avon-UNIFEM partnership. These
resources will bolster the UN Trust Fund's critical work on the
implementation of laws, policies and government plans to prevent and reduce
the prevalence of violence against women.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080304/NYTU052 )
This public-private partnership, driven by Avon and UNIFEM's shared
commitment to advance women's empowerment globally, will be announced today
at the Global Summit for a Better Tomorrow at the United Nations.
Co-sponsored by UNIFEM and Avon, the Summit will focus on the tools and
resources needed for women's empowerment around the world. The Summit is in
celebration of International Women's Day, which will be recognized globally
on March 8, 2008.
"For more than 120 years, Avon has empowered women across the globe by
providing them the opportunity to own their own business and achieve economic
independence. We believe that by empowering women, we can help change the
world and this commitment is imprinted on everything we do," said Andrea
Jung, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Avon Products, Inc. "Avon is
proud to partner with UNIFEM, a leading organization dedicated to advancing
the causes of women around the world. Working together we will continue this
important agenda and create an even better future for women, for families and
ultimately society at large."
Joanne Sandler, UNIFEM Executive Director, a.i., said, "UNIFEM, the
women's fund at the United Nations, welcomes Avon, the Company for Women, as
an engaged and long-term partner, helping UNIFEM fulfill its mission to
advance women's empowerment and gender equality. This public-private
partnership brings a strong global leader in the private sector as a stalwart
ally in our common efforts. Together, we can reach a broad international
constituency, which is essential to advance women globally and make ending
violence against women a top priority."
The Global Summit brings together some of the most influential and
accomplished leaders and advocates in the area of global women's empowerment
including: Mallika Dutt, Founder and Executive Director of Breakthrough, an
international human rights organization using innovative high impact
education, media and popular culture to about social change in India and the
US; Liliana Rainero, coordinator of the women's rights organization CISCSA
(Center of Subregional Exchange in the Southern Cone) and a UN Trust Fund
grantee from Argentina, works to build safer communities and neighborhoods;
UNIFEM Executive Director, a.i., Joanne Sandler; Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer, Avon Products, Inc., Andrea Jung; award-winning actress and Avon
Global Ambassador Reese Witherspoon; and personal-finance expert, TV host and
best-selling author Suze Orman.
To help raise both awareness and funds, Witherspoon is unveiling at the
Summit Avon's first global fundraising product, the Women's Empowerment
Bracelet. The bracelets will sell for US$3 each and all net profits will be
donated to the Avon Empowerment Fund. In 2008, the Avon Foundation will match
the first US$500,000 in bracelet sales for a total donation of US$1 million
for new grant-making by the UN Trust Fund.
"One out of every three women in the world is affected by domestic
violence. I am proud to be a part of this Summit, and I support Avon and
UNIFEM wholeheartedly in their efforts to put an end to this global
epidemic," said Witherspoon. "As honorary chair of the Avon Foundation, I'm
also very excited to introduce the Avon Women's Empowerment Bracelet. It's
difficult for each one of us to pause in our daily lives, and think about
what we might do to improve the condition of women everywhere. As
individuals, it's almost impossible for us to be effective, but together, we
can change the world. I love the bracelet, and what it stands for: our
collective power, our solidarity, our determination and our hope."
The UN Trust Fund is in its eleventh year of operation and to date has
distributed nearly US$18 million to 250 innovative programs addressing
violence against women in more than 120 countries. The Trust Fund has a
special focus on increasing legal literacy and working with judicial, legal
and law enforcement agencies and personnel, and other stakeholders, to
increase the awareness, understanding and efficacy of regulations to curb
violence against women.
Also included among speakers and special guests at the Global Summit are
selected global winners of the Avon Hello Tomorrow Fund, including Alfa
Demmellash a U.S. winner from New Jersey and Gursel Cilingiroglu from Turkey.
The Hello Tomorrow Fund is a unique grassroots program launched in over a
dozen countries in which Avon provides cash awards to individuals to launch
or expand programs that empower women. In the U.S., the Hello Tomorrow Fund
provides one US$5,000 award each week to an individual whose initiative both
advances the interests of women and ultimately improves society. The Hello
Tomorrow Fund has had tremendous impact across the world, with programs
ranging from promoting career development of women university students in
Shanghai, China, to helping victims of domestic violence rebuild their lives
in Massachusetts, Georgia and Tennessee. The Hello Tomorrow Fund concludes
its successful first year this week, and is extending into a second year.
Suze Orman, a U.S. Hello Tomorrow Fund judge, noted that "being part of
the Hello Tomorrow Fund is a constant reminder to me of how much true
greatness resides in the hearts of so many. The desire for women to want to
be true architects of change is so obvious with every single proposal that I
read." In each country, a panel of notable experts and public figures, such
as Ms. Orman, review Hello Tomorrow Fund applications and select the award
recipients.
About Avon Products, Inc. and the Avon Foundation
Avon, the company for women, is a leading global beauty company, with
almost US$10 billion in annual revenue. As the world's largest direct seller,
Avon markets to women in more than 100 countries through 5.4 million
independent Avon Sales Representatives. Avon's product line includes beauty
products, fashion jewelry and apparel, and features such well-recognized
brand names as Avon Color, Anew, Skin-So-Soft, Advance Techniques, Avon
Naturals, and Mark. Avon is also a leader in corporate responsibility and
philanthropy. In addition to Avon's heritage of women's empowerment, the Avon
Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity, is the largest corporate foundation
for women, with more than US$580 million raised worldwide for breast cancer,
domestic violence and emergency disaster relief. Learn more about Avon, its
products and programs at www.avoncompany.com.
About UNIFEM
UNIFEM is the United Nations Development Fund for Women. It provides
financial and technical assistance to innovative programs and strategies to
foster women's empowerment and gender equality. Placing the advancement of
women's human rights at the centre of all of its efforts, UNIFEM focuses its
activities on reducing feminized poverty; ending violence against women;
reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS among women and girls; and achieving gender
equality in democratic governance in times of peace as well as war. For more
information, visit www.unifem.org.
Web site: http://www.avoncompany.com
http://www.unifem.org
Nanette Braun, UNIFEM, +1-212-906-6829, or +1-916-667-1696, Nanette.braun@unifem.org; Kimberly Bernhardt, kbernhardt@bncpr.com, or Dana Waisberg, dwaisberg@bncpr.com, BNC | Bragman Nyman Cafarelli, +1-212-253-4646 /Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080304/NYTU052, AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org, PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com