"I call on men around the world to lead by example: to make clear that violence against women is an act perpetrated by a coward, and that speaking up against it is a badge of honour. I call on Member States around the world: the responsibility, above all, lies with you. I call on all of you to pledge with me: United We Shall Succeed"
This was Secretary General Ban Ki-moon speaking at the launch of the UN campaign to end violence against women earlier this week. Powerful words indeed and the cause of real rejoicing this week by women from many different countries, but I still haven't been able to get an answer to the question of how much money the UN is putting behind the campaign. Nobody seems to know, not even the UN press office which has been trying to find the answer since Monday, and this during a CSW conference devoted to ‘financing for women's empowerment and gender equality'. The press office says part of the problem is that the campaign is a 12-agency collaboration. Still even a ball park figure would be useful for delegates to work with, many are trying to work out strategies by which they might access the money both regionally and nationally.