<h3>Transcript</h3>
Voice 1&nbsp;

Welcome to Spotlight. I&rsquo;m Liz Waid.

Voice 2&nbsp;

And I&rsquo;m Ryan Geertsma. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.

Voice 1

In July, 2013, a group of young people gathered in Quito, Ecuador. They were attending a large party. The party was fun, but it was for a very serious issue. The UNiTE campaign organized this party. Other health and women&rsquo;s organizations with the city of Quito also helped. There, they called on young people to be a force of change. They asked young people to work toward stopping violence against women and girls. The UN Women Director for the Americas and the Caribbean is Moni Pizani. She challenged the young people:

Voice 3&nbsp;

&ldquo;Courage makes the impossible possible. So we ask you: show us your bravery. Be our agents of change. Help us to change those frightening facts of the thousands of women and girls who are victims of violence.&rdquo;

Voice 2&nbsp;

Violence against women and girls is high in this area. Freddy Justiniano, another regional director, told the young people that they could change that. He said:

Voice 4

&ldquo;We know it is you, the young men and women, who can make an extreme change to this situation. You can build a nonviolent society where people are equal. The world has seen that you have the power to change society. And Latin America needs you.&rdquo;

Voice 1&nbsp;

This is the message the UNiTE campaign sends to young people around the world. Today&rsquo;s Spotlight is on the UNiTE campaign and how young men and women <em>can</em> and <em>will</em> change the world.

Voice 2&nbsp;

Violence against women happens in all places in the world. The most common kind of violence against women is physical violence. Women are also raped - they are forced to have sex. This can happen at home. This crime also happens in times of conflict. Women are forced into marriage. They are sold for sex slavery. They are bullied and made to feel shame. Violence against women and girls is a worldwide problem. It is a problem that affects every person - man or woman, young or old.

Voice 1

In 2008, Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon established a special campaign, or program. The campaign is called <a href="http://www.un.org/en/women/endviolence/" target="_blank">UNiTE to End Violence Against Women</a>. This campaign aims to prevent and end violence against women. It sounds simple. But it involves changing whole cultures and ideas about women. UNiTE calls on everyone to join together to stop this violence. They call on governments, the public, women&rsquo;s organizations, private businesses, and the media including radio and television. They also call on young people.

Voice 2&nbsp;

UNiTE knows that young people are important for change. In May of 2012, UNiTE organized an event for young people. All the young people who attended were leaders in their communities. Many worked to improve human rights, especially for women, in their communities. In this Global UNiTE Youth Forum, young people shared their stories.

Voice 1&nbsp;

One young woman who shared her story was Vika Veiongo &lsquo;Akau&rsquo;ola from Tonga. She was 24 years old. &lsquo;Akau&rsquo;ola told the Youth Forum that she grew up thinking that as a woman, she had fewer rights. She believed that her opinions, ideas, and words were not important. Today, she works in a safe house for women and children. These women and children have been victims of violence and abuse. She shares a very different message with these women than the one she heard growing up. She says:

Voice 5&nbsp;

&ldquo;I make it a point to tell them that they are valuable. They have rights and they have every right to be heard. No matter what, violence against women and girls is not OK. It does not matter what the situation is and it does not matter what society says or does. Violence against women and girls is <em>not</em> part of the Tongan culture and it is <em>not</em> part of Christianity. We need to challenge this always as young women by speaking up, working toward and holding strong to our views.&rdquo;

Voice 2&nbsp;

The UNiTE Global Youth Network Forum also began another way for young people to work toward change. On the 25th of each month they celebrate &ldquo;Orange Day&rdquo;. On each Orange Day people across the world concentrate on issues concerning women and girls. In this way, it is an issue that appears every month!

Voice 1&nbsp;

July 25th, 2013 was the one year anniversary of Orange Days. On that day people thought about the internet as a safe place for women and girls. Many young people use social media like twitter, Facebook, and other parts of the internet. These can be bad places for women and girls. People can use social media to embarrass or shame girls using pictures or words. Some men use social media to stalk women. They follow everything these women do to threaten and even hurt them.

Voice 2&nbsp;

But people can also use social media for good! Women and girls can use the internet to learn. They can connect with other people. They can find opportunities like jobs. Young people can use technology to spread good messages. They can make the internet a safe place for women and girls.

Voice 1&nbsp;

Orange Days give young people a chance to use social media. They can post the Orange Day ribbon symbol on their Facebook or other social media website. They can link to organizations that work to stop violence against women and girls.

Voice 2&nbsp;

There are many things all people can do to end violence against women and girls. UNiTE encourages people to:

<em><strong>Organize!</strong></em>

Voice 1&nbsp;

Anyone can organize an event that gives information about violence against women and girls. Use the event to raise money to support work that helps victims.

<em><strong>Engage!</strong></em>

Voice 2&nbsp;

Work closely with other groups that stop violence against women. Use social media to speak out against violence in any form.

<em><strong>Speak!</strong></em>

Voice 1&nbsp;

Speak to people in your community about the problem. In many communities, speaking about violence against women and girls is not permitted. But people must break the silence. A problem cannot be solved if no one talks about it!

<em><strong>Volunteer!</strong></em>

Voice 2&nbsp;

Work with organizations that help to end violence against women and girls. Use your time, energy, and skills to stop this terrible problem.

Voice 1&nbsp;

Violence against women and girls is a problem everywhere. Young people are in a special position to work toward change. People like Vika Veiongo &lsquo;Akau&rsquo;ola from Tonga and other young leaders show how young people can change opinions. They can lead in special ways. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon calls for people to unite against this terrible form of violence. He says:

Voice 6&nbsp;

&ldquo;We must unite. Violence against women cannot be permitted in any form, in any situation, by any political leader or by any government. The time to change is now. Only by standing together and speaking out can we make a difference.&rdquo;

Voice 2&nbsp;&nbsp;

The writer of this program was Liz Waid. The producer was Michio Ozaki. The voices you heard were from the United States and the United Kingdom. All quotes were adapted and voiced by Spotlight. You can find our programs on the internet at <a href="http://www.radioenglish.net">www.radioenglish.net</a>. This program is called &lsquo;Unite to End Violence Against Women&rsquo;.

Voice 1&nbsp;

We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye.



Question:
How do you prevent violence against women in your community?


