LONDON, July 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- 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