AFRICA/SOUTH AFRICA - Five-year campaign to fight violence against women launched

Johannesburg (Agenzia Fides) – On the occasion of the World Cup 2010, which will be held in South Africa from June 11 to July 11, a five-year campaign to stop violence against women (VAW) and girls will be launched. Organized by the international group “Man Up,” it will gather together 200 young men and women from 50 countries around the world. Man Up's goal is to support organizations that combat violence against women, establishing a network of young supporters and defenders, and combine the efforts of grassroots communities with those of international organizations, businesses, the sports world, and the entertainment world. Man Up is an international organization that mobilizes young leaders to stop violence against women and girls. Using the universal influences of music and sport, it provides innovative training, resources and support to young men and women, as well as organizations that collaborate with them. The group invites everyone to take part in this global summit in South Africa. Delegates to the Summit will learn to plan and implement such initiatives in their respective countries of origin in addition to receiving resources and guides from major non-governmental organizations, athletes, musicians and artists over the five years of the campaign. This same group of delegates will meet again in Brazil at the World Cup 2014, to share their experiences and demonstrate how young people can make the world a safer place for women. According to statistics, one in three women around the world have suffered violence at least once in a lifetime. Man Up was officially announced in September 2009 at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 4/3/2010)