Mayor de Blasio Announces City Hall and Gracie Mansion to Honor International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

November 25, 2015

Standing with U.N. Women, City Hall to fly orange banners; Gracie Mansion lit orange to commemorate 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence

NEW YORK—For the second consecutive year, The City of New York will join hands with UN Women to commemorate the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence to raise public awareness and mobilize people around the world. To honor the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25, Gracie Mansion will be lit orange – the color adopted by the UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE to End Violence Against Women campaign to symbolize hope for a violence-free future – and orange banners will fly at City Hall, in a show of commitment to ending violence against women and girls in New York City.

“Violence against women does not discriminate: it knows no borders, and can occur in any community and any home. Through our partnership with UN Women, we are working in solidarity with organizations and governments around the world to end violence against women and to achieve gender equality,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.
  
“Women and girls are trapped in lives defined by fear and violence, in cities all across the globe. With vigorous determination, we are working in New York City to connect victims to the resources they need to establish independence,” said First Lady Chirlane McCray. “In partnership with UN Women, we are committed to doing everything we can to create a city – and a world – where all women and girls can live their lives without fear of violence.”

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence runs from November 25 through December 10. In addition to these two iconic buildings in New York City, messages about prevention of violence against women will appear on Taxi TV throughout the 16 days, and on the NASDAQ and Reuters screens in Times Square. Moreover, landmark sites in more than 70 countries will also be “oranged” for the commemoration. These sites include Niagara Falls (Canada/USA), the archeological ruins at Petra (Jordan), the Christ the Redeemer Statue in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), and the Palais de Justice (Democratic Republic of the Congo).

Since the signing of an agreement between UN Women and New York City one year ago on the International Day to End Violence against Women 2014, the City of New York has supported public education and advocacy efforts organized by UN Women, co-organized a gender equity march of thousands through midtown Manhattan, and joined UN Women’s Safe Cities Global Initiative, committing to make the public spaces safe for women and girls.

Follow the hashtags #orangetheworld, #16days, and #NYCxUN to join the conversation on social media.