For 16 days, the hashtag Orange the world: #HearMeToo was trending on social media. Do you want to know why?
This year, to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls, UN Women amplified the voices of female survivors through exposure in events, solidarity activism and high-profile campaigns, which will continue until 10 December. To attract everyone’s attention, several buildings and well-known landmarks, such as the headquarters of BBVA Microfinance Foundation in Madrid, Spain, were lit in orange, the official color of this campaign.
The BBVAMF headquarters, lit in orange for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls
United Nations Under-Secretary-General & Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo, called on society about the need to stop questioning the credibility of victims, but rather, demand accountability from the agressors. “This campaign is a call for survivors to be heard and believed, to put an end to the culture of silence”, she declared.
The organization reports that one in every three women suffers violence during their lifespan, regardless of their social position, class, race, country or age group. For many of them, the #MeToo moment has not arrived yet, because speaking out can still have fatal consequences.
Amplifying their voices with this campaign, alongside determined collective action, will bring an end to the culture of silence, so that these women and children who suffer violence can exercise their right to a decent life and enjoy their freedom, enabling them to progress and develop their full potential.