LONDON,
July 11, 2019 /CNW/ -- Avon and
the Avon Foundation for Women today announced a new $200,000 grant to Vital Voices Global
Partnership. The grant will fund Voices Against
Violence, an initiative which builds on Avon's long-standing commitment to help women
and girls live safe lives, free from violence. The donation marks
the Avon Foundation's tenth year partnering with Vital Voices,
bringing its total funding for the NGO to over $4 million.
With current research showing that one in three women
globally will experience gender-based violence, experts agree that
no one sector alone can adequately confront the scale of this
epidemic. In response, Avon and
Vital Voices joined forces to form a public-private partnership
with the US Department of State over a decade ago. During the
lifetime of the public-private partnership, the total number of
beneficiaries is 2.3 million people in 66 countries. This
broad impact stems from the over 3,000 individuals who have been
trained and directly
supported.
The new grant will fund the 2019 Voices Against
Violence initiative. Voices Against Violence will
convene NGOs, law enforcement agencies, service providers and other
allied advocates to improve investigation, prosecution, victim
safety and survivor support. The partnership is launching
Voices Against Violence programmes in Argentina, the
Philippines and South
Africa in 2019. Led by the Vital Voices Human Rights team
and its network of experts from around the world, this dynamic
programme will:
- Encourage conversation: with a
training programme to help advocates – including Avon associates and Representatives – to
support women and girls impacted by violence.
- Provide information: with the launch
of a new website providing awareness and resources
about gender-based violence
- Improve support: continuing to
improve and enhance support by working to remove barriers for
survivors in accessing justice and vital support
services
The first summit of 2019 took place in Manila, Philippines in June, becoming the
52nd training programme that Avon and the Avon Foundation have run with
Vital Voices. The event convened local experts
and dignitaries including the United
States Ambassador to the
Philippines, Sung Kim, and
leaders from organisations such as the Philippine Commission on
Women, the Philippine National Police and the Development Action
for Women Network.
The programme included a full-day training session for
Avon associates and
Representatives, aimed at raising awareness of different forms of
abuse and equipping participants with life-saving techniques and
resources.
Amy Greene, Chair of the
Avon Foundation, said: "Avon has
been championing women worldwide for more than 130 years. Voices
Against Violence is one of the ways in which we're tackling
gender violence as part of stand4her –
our programme which aims to positively impact the lives of 100
million women around the world each year and create a better world
for women. This new Foundation funding amplifies
the power of our voice. It's crucial that we open up the
conversation about gender-based violence and open up partnerships
and connection between the players that can make a tangible
difference to women who are impacted."
Nicole Hauspurg, Director
of Justice Initiatives at Vital Voices, said: "We are honoured to
have the Avon Foundation and Avon
as a partner and humbled by the opportunity to convene such a
diverse and dedicated group of advocates to elevate the voices of
survivors and those who courageously advocate on their
behalf."
Since 2004, Avon and Avon
Foundation for Women have contributed $65
million to help tackle gender violence around the world.
Tens of millions of women and families have been supported through
these efforts through direct services or support and
information.
About Vital Voices Global
Partnership
Vital Voices Global Partnership is
an international non-profit organization that identifies and
partners with creative and fearless women leaders around the world.
Vital Voices searches the world for women leaders with daring
vision for change, then works with them to make that vision a
reality with capacity building, skills training, grants, access to
a network of their peers, mentorship, visibility, recognition and
guidance to accelerate change on a global scale. For more than
20 years, Vital Voices has invested in over 16,000 women leaders
from 181 countries and territories, who have then gone on to create
change affecting millions around the world. Visit
www.vitalvoices.org to learn more.
About Avon Foundation for Women
The
Avon Foundation for Women is committed to supporting issues that
matter most to women. Since its inception in 1955, the Avon
Foundation has promoted or aided charitable, scientific,
educational, and humanitarian activities, with a special emphasis
on activities that improve the lives of women and their families.
Through 2018, Avon Products, Inc. and the Avon Foundation have
contributed over $1 billion in over
50 countries. Today, Avon global
cause programs focus on breast health awareness and prevention
through the Avon Breast Cancer Promise,
and to help end gender-based violence through
the Avon Promise to Help End Violence Against
Women and Girls.
About Avon Products Inc.
For 130 years Avon has stood for
women: providing innovative, quality beauty products which are
primarily sold to women, through women. Millions of
independent sales Representatives across the world sell iconic Avon
brands such as Avon Color and ANEW through their social networks,
building their own beauty businesses on a full- or part-time
basis. Avon supports women's
empowerment, entrepreneurship and well-being and has donated over
$1billion to women's causes through
Avon and the Avon
Foundation. Learn more about Avon and its products at
www.avonworldwide.com. #stand4Her
View original
content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/avon-foundation-for-women-announces-new-funding-for-vital-voices-marking-a-ten-year-partnership-aimed-at-ending-gender-based-violence-300882595.html
SOURCE Avon Products, Inc.