2008 Programs and Events
Say No to Violence Against Women
The United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) ended its second global "Say No to Violence Against Women" campaign on December 10. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice added her voice to this effort on November 19 when she signed an official pledge stating that, “we should dedicate ourselves to creating awareness among individuals and communities of the great damage violence against women inflicts, and commit ourselves to end this atrocity.” I congratulate those Palestinians working with a coalition of non-governmental organizations, UNIFEM, UNESCO and the Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Women’s Affairs to carry this same message to communities from Jenin to Hebron. The U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem salutes these efforts and contributes the following opinion piece to the dialogue. It is written by Andrea Bottner, Director of the U.S State Department’s Office of International Women’s Issues.
Text of Op-ed