UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
PANA
New York, US – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday called on people to wear the colour orange to mark the International Day to End Violence against Women, which is marked on 25 November.
A UN statement quoted Ban as saying that, “It is also a chance to recommit to preventing and halting all forms of violence against women and girls.”
He also asked people to make a special effort and advocate for the cause for the next 16 days, between 25 November and 10 December, the UN Human Rights Day.
According to him: “It is also a time to pay tribute to all those many heroes who champion this cause.
“One such hero is the Dr. Denis Mukwege, who founded the Panzi Hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Women who go there are treated after undergoing terrible atrocities,” he stated.
The UN chief quoted Dr. Mukwege as saying that “many times we are reduced to tears. Everything is so damaged. But we get to work. We operate. We fix what we can, and that is a lot.”
The secretary-general also noted that “Dr. Mukwege is inspired by the courage of the women he treats, including the many who go on to help others. He is also inspired by the courage of his patients. We must confront and fix this problem everywhere.”
Ban launched his UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign in 2008.
Since then, he said, partners around the world have joined the drive to protect the human rights of women and girls to live free from violence.
