Equal Access Nepal received Avon Communications Awards: Speaking Out About Violence Against Women yesterday for their work on VOICES-Samajhdari. Actress and Avon Foundation for Women Ambassador Salma Hayek Pinault presented the award during an adjunct event to the 57th session of the Commission of the Status of Women at the United Nations. Equal Access Nepal was one of the five global organizations to receive the prestigious award, which recognizes outstanding communications campaigns that are helping change communities, policies, institutions, and behaviors to end violence against women. Equal Access Nepal implemented Voices-Samajhdari project between 2007-2010 which included radio programs and print materials to end violence against women.
Other winners are Bytes for All (Pakistan) , Engender Health (Tanzania), State Service for Youth and Sports & International Women’s Rights Center ‘La Strada’ (Ukraine) and PCI Media Impact (Peru). The winning organizations will also receive an Avon Foundation grant to fund the continuation of their work.
“People are willing to speak out, but they don’t always know how to recognize the signs of abuse or how best to intervene,” said Avon Products, Inc. CEO Sheri McCoy.
Executive Director of Equal Access Nepal Dr. Bharat Devkota said the award is recognition for EAN's efforts to end violence against Women. He added, "Through the materials, we tried to address the intersection between HIV & AIDS and Violence Against Women. It was found that majority of the women living with HIV & AIDS were also the victims of violence. This award inspires us to work further in the field."
An international panel of judges selected VOICES-Samajhdari from more than 425 submissions to the Communications X-Change by 119 organizations in 46 countries, ranging from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe.
The awards coincide with International Women’s Day, and the Commission of the Status of Women, which this year focuses on the elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls. The Commission of the Status of Women drew nearly 6,000 representatives from UN Member States, UN entities and NGOs from around the world for a two-week session.
Equal Access Nepal envisions an informed and equitable society where all voices are heard and respected. EAN works with an aim of reaching the unreached by providing critically needed information and knowledge through media, capacity building and community engagement for positive transformation.
More information about the award: http://www.avonfoundation.org/causes/domestic-violence/funding/avoncommunication-
awards/
