Get ready to Orange the World!

The campaign to “Orange the World” builds on last year’s movement to “Orange Your Neighborhood”.  United Nations entities and supporters took the campaign to the streets of their neighborhoods, organizing a wide range of “orange events” to emphasize the importance of individual and community activism to end violence.  Activities took place in over 70 countries around the world, from flash mobs to bicycle races, street marches, art exhibits and singing competitions. In many countries, the “Orange Your Neighborhood” campaign provided the opportunity to launch new initiatives and events, and renew commitments:

• As part of the “Orange Your Neighborhood” campaign, UN Women and the International Telecommunications Union in Cameroon launched the first toll-free calling centre for survivors of gender-based violence in Douala during a special Gender Café.
• Jamaica’s government and private sectors joined UN Women Jamaica to launch an advocacy campaign around ending sexual violence against girls.
• In the Asia-Pacific region, 600 representatives from Member States, civil society, youth, media and UN agencies congregated in Thailand and signed a pledge to accelerate prevention and response to violence against women and girls.  
• “Orange Your Neighborhood” sparked a global conversation on social media, reaching over 100 million people as politicians, sports stars and actors took to social media to express their support.
• Major landmarks around the world were lit orange to draw attention to the issue including the Empire State Building, UN Headquarters and large screens in Times Square, the Angel of Independence in Mexico City, the Palace of the President of the Republic of Ecuador, the Torre Futura in San Salvador, the Administration Building of the Panama Canal, and the Sphinx and the Pyramids at Giza in Egypt.

The UNiTE campaign looks forward to leading an even bigger and brighter, 2015, engaging new audiences, inspiring commitments and conversations in ‘what works’ in efforts to prevent and end violence against women and girls.  Start planning and make sure that when UN agencies, NGOs, private sector entities, communities, individuals and others join together to “Orange the World”, you and your community can add your voice and become a part of the global campaign to end violence against women and girls.

Orange Day Activities:

• It’s time to start planning to turn your building, community, city and region orange!  Talk to local council members to ensure that your local landmarks major icons around the world in lighting up in orange to highlight the issue.  Arrange for your organization’s branding to turn orange for the 16 Days of Activism, and consider taking out an orange advertisement on a billboard or in a magazine to help spread the message.
• Calling on youth!  Last month, your voices were heard all around the world, describing your vision for a future free from violence against women and girls.  This month, arrange a planning meeting to discuss how your youth organization, school or club can be a part of the “Orange the World” campaign for the 16 Days of Activism.  Whether it’s an orange flash mob, digital campaign, sporting event, creative performance or peer discussion, consider how your organization and community can help to “Orange the World” and advocate for a brighter future.
• Let us know what you’re planning. Write to UNiTE Campaign Coordinator Anna Alaszewski at anna.alaszewski@unwomen.org to tell us about how your community or organization is going to help to “Orange the World”.

Useful Resources:

The UNiTE campaign’s poster for Orange Day and the 16 Days of Activism

The UNiTE campaign’s toolkit to help with generating ideas and the initial stages of planning