UN: Actress Reese Witherspoon backs bracelet sale for UN women's fund

Record ID: 336104

  • Title: UN: Actress Reese Witherspoon backs bracelet sale for UN women's fund
  • Date: 5th March 2008
  • Summary: UNITED NATIONS (FILE) (REUTERS) UNITED NATIONS BUILDING
  • Embargoed: 20th March 2008 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA6PW9MAYXE1QXI4PETL7LENLFD
  • Story Text: Actress Reese Witherspoon joined the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), in a private-public partnership with Avon Inc., to help launch a campaign that focuses on ending violence against women and women's economic empowerment.
    At the press conference in UN headquarters Witherspoon unveiled Avon's first global fundraising product, the Women's Empowerment Bracelet. Net proceeds will be donated to the newly established Avon Empowerment Fund.
    In 2008, the Avon Foundation, the largest corporate foundation for women in the world, will match the first 500,000 U.S. dollars in bracelet sales for a total donation of one million (USD) to the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women.
    Witherspoon, 31, who won a best actress Oscar playing country singer June Carter in "Walk the Line" but is a producer of her latest movie "Penelope," said she hoped to use her recognizability for a cause that is very important to her.
    Asked about violence against women portrayed in Hollywood, she said her response was to "really depict women that I see socially, women who are strong and accomplished and self-respecting."
    Reese Witherspoon in her interview after the press conference told that women have come so far, but there is still far to go. One in three women in the world is dealing with the violence in their lives.
    At the Global Summit for a Better Tomorrow at the United Nations UNIFEM Executive Director Joanne Sandler said that violence against women remains the 'hidden pandemic'. Estimated 9.5 billion dollars criminal networks earn from women trafficking. It is also hidden in cultural practices, like female genital mutilation.
    The Summit is in celebration of International Women's Day, which will be recognized globally on March 8, 2008.
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