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Nicole Kidman speaks at the UN.
Today, Nicole Kidman presented 5 million signatures to the United Nations Secretary General to stop violence against women. Many of your names were included because you clicked to the UNIFEM Say NO to violence petition and signed. (If you missed my post earlier, click on over now; it's not too late.)
Cool, huh? I was at the U.N. in New York City (Me, Cafe Kristen, I couldn't believe it!) and sat less than 20 feet from Nicole Kidman. She looked amazing, totally perfect, and I loved her chic black dress and diamond earrings.
But fashion, of course, was not the point of this inspirational and amazing event. Leaders from around the world joined this afternoon on International Day to End Violence Against Women. They came together to make some noise against the horrible things that still happen to women worldwide. This movement, from UNIFEM, The UN Development Fund for Women, has raised $20 million to help women get psychological support and medical care everywhere from Bulgaria to Darfur.
I met so many interesting and important people during the reception before the event in the famous UN chamber. I stood with Lidia from Lidia's Italy, the elegant cooking show on PBS. I had appetizers with one of the keynote speakers, Monseigneur Hector Fabio Henao, who helps the 2 million displaced women in his home country, Columbia. Another woman there had escaped from Congo after her father forced her into polygamy, and she now helps other Congolese women.
Here's more I learned today:
- 40 women are raped in the Congo every day.
- A woman in Somalia was raped, then stoned to death by her own people because of 'adultry.'
- And according to Nicole Kidman today, 1 in 3 girls will suffer from abuse or violence in her lifetime.
Here are my photos from the day. Notice another beautifully coiffed woman, Andrea Jung at the bottom in a gray suit. She's the CEO of Avon, and her company gave UNIFEM $1 million this year.
UNIFEM Director, UN Secretary General & Nicole Kidman
Avon CEO & Nicole Kidman
What do you think about events like this? Can we all work together to end violence against women?
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Comments (8)
how cool for you to get to attend this event! and all for a great cause.
The statistics are shocking. It's so important to bring this to people's attention. Sounds like a worthwhile day in every respect.
I'm still in awe over it. It was such an adventure. And for such a good cause. :)
This is indeed a need that must be met. My brother today just went to cook for the Thanksgiving rush for Abused and battered womens shelter. The stories he heard and women he saw coming in were people that you might never expect to be in that position however never judge a book by its cover. Thank God for organizations like this and thank you NICOLE KIDMAN and the CEO of AVON for putting their heads together in making a difference in this world for the positive. It is when I see things like this that I praise the Lord more for the good work that some people are doing. Using their status and talents and gifts to move forward in making a difference in this world. It motivates us moms to do the same. I support what has been done here and am priviledged to be a part of cafe mom.