Skyscraper Illuminated In Orange On Elimination Of Violence Against Women Day

Ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the head of UN Women Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and actress Terry Hatcher have together "flipped the switch" to illuminate the Empire State Building in orange - symbolizing hope for a "future free from violence against women and girls."

Secretary-General said 'we must end this global disgrace" – by putting an end to "mindset and traditions that encourage, ignore and tolerate violence".

Announcing the "Orange YOUR Neighbourhood" campaign, a 16 days of "activism against Gender-Based Violence", taking place between 25 November and 10 December, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women said only when all sections of society are involved in the struggle to end the violence against women that we will truly see an end to it."

Actress Terry Hatcher, herself a victim of sexual violence, reminded that "one in three women experience of being beaten or being coerced into sex or some sort of abuse in their lifetime".

Tonight in New York, both the iconic Empire State Building and UN Headquarters will be lit in orange light.

In Times Square, one of the world's most visited tourist attractions, the NASDAQ and Reuters Tower screens will flash the colour along with anti-violence messages on 25 November, the International Day to End Violence against Women.

SHOTLIST:
24 NOVEMBER 2014, NEW YORK CITY

Aerial of NY
Top of the Empire State Building
Ban and Hacher pulling the lever
From top of the ESB model to Ban, Hacher and Ngcuka.
Ngcuka on the podium
Photographers to three posing
Manhattan panorama to Ngcuka and Hatcher posing with signs
Ngcuka and Hatcher posing with signs
Hatcher with signs

SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations:
"We must change the everyday experience of women and girls. We must challenge discrimination and oppression. We must put a stop to mindset and traditions that encourage, ignore and tolerate violence. Together, we must end this global disgrace."

SOUNDBITE (English) Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director, UN Women:
"And during those sixteen days we will actively campaign for all sections of society to take part and to commit to end violence against women. We believe that it is only when all sections of society are involved in this struggle to end the violence against women that we will truly see an end to it."
SOUNDBITE (English) Teri Hatcher, actress:
"I know that one in three – I am one in three, one in three women will experience of being beaten or being coerced into sex or some sort of abuse in their lifetime. That many of these crimes go unpunished and that many of these perpetrators walk free. So our message here today is clear. We have to do better. We can do better. You can do better."

DURATION: 02:09