The United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Yaounde organised a media event to share information about the UN Secretary-General's campaign to end violence against women, increase awareness of the issue and to encourage actions to end violence against women.

The event was held on 31 March. 26 journalists and broadcasters, who are members of the UN Press Club Bamenda, attended the session.

After an introductory speech by the UN Press Club Coordinator, UNIC's National Information Officer highlighted the main points from the Secretary-General’s campaign launch statement and his message for International Women's Day 2008.

The instructor for the session discussed the following topics: 1) violence against women as a human rights concern, 2) strategic communication to end violence against women and 3) developing messages to fight violence against women.

A veteran journalist talked about how she effected change through her reporting on cultural vices in the northern region of Bali, now a case study for the media's positive contribution to change and eliminating violence against women.

The participants created a network to continue action to end violence against women which will focus on communication targeted towards traditional rulers and communication targeted towards men.

Please visit the Secretary-General's website for more information on the campaign to end violence against women.

In collaboration with the North West Women's Empowerment Forum (NOWWEF), the umbrella organisation for women's NGOs in the North West province of Cameroon, the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Yaounde organised an outreach event on 29 March at Congress Hall, Bamenda, the capital of the North West province.

Over 950 people participated in the event. Representatives from more than 26 women's NGOs were in attendance as well as traditional leaders, administrative authorities and opinion leaders of the North West province.

The theme of the event was "There Comes a Time .... Now is the Time .... Let’s Take Action", and it provided an opportunity for the UNIC's National Information Officer to share the Secretary-General's message on his special campaign to end violence against women. Other speakers included the Secretary General of the North West Fon’s Union, a former Prime Minister / opinion leader, a representative of the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, and the Minister of Culture, who is the only female member of government from the North West province.

The North West Women's Empowerment Forum is a mechanism to ensure that opinion leaders and policymakers at the highest level are encouraged to work towards the prevention and eradication of violence against women. It is also a forum which "invests in women and girls" and helps intensify action to end violence against women and girls.

Please visit the Secretary-General's website for more information on his campaign to end violence against women.

One of the events that the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Dhaka participated in to mark International Women's Day was the Women's Day Fair at Bangladesh Shishu Academy.  The eight day event opened on 8 March and ran through 15 March.  UNIC Dhaka operated a stand that provided information materials published by UN agencies to visitors.  A large number of people from all walks of life attended the fair, including the Secretary for the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, and many attendees visited the UN stand.

On 13 March the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Lagos, the United Nations Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and the Women’s Optimum Development Foundation (WODEF) held an interactive forum entitled "Investing in Women and Girls" in Lagos to commemorate International Women’s Day.

The event, which was part of a series of activities to mark the 31st anniversary of International Women’s Day, brought together government representatives, the private sector, leaders of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the media. All participants agreed that stakeholders should intensify their efforts to encourage investment in the empowerment of women and girls in Nigeria.