Friday, October 10, 2014

Launch of Baap Wali Baat,

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Launch of Baap Wali Baat, a Song on the Value of Girls that invites men to be model fathers

New Delhi, 10 October 2014 – On the eve of the International Day of the Girl Child, and as part of the second phase of the #ENDviolence campaign launched recently with the slogan#ItStartsWithMe, UNICEF India unveiled the Baap Wali Baat song, which presents a positive scenario free of violence where girls can thrive and develop to their full potential.

“It is a song that stresses the importance of valuing girls for whom they are, of empowering them through education, protecting them and upholding their role as a human beings and citizens of our society,” said Louis-Georges Arsenaultat the launch event.

The anthem of the #ENDviolence campaign talks to men of different age groups, inviting them to follow a role model that decides to stand out of the crowd and to do everything possible to ensure his daughter gets an education, is safe and dreams of a future where she can take her own decisions regarding her life. A father who does not care about the social pressure that other fellows may play on him, as valuing his daughter is his mission.

“Like this man, any man can undertake this mission and do their bit to empower, value and protect their daughter, sister, friend or any girl,” stated Mr. Arsenault.

The International Day of the Girl Child was declared to recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world. This year, the theme is Empowering Adolescent Girls: Ending the Cycle of Violence.

Rebecca Reichmann Tavares, UNWOMEN Representative in India, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka, referred to the challenges faced by women and girls in India. “There is one universal truth, applicable to all countries, cultures and communities: violence against women and girls is never acceptable, never excusable, never tolerable. Every woman and every girl has a right to freedom from violence and freedom from fear of that violence. Today is a step towards breaking the silence on this very important issue,” she pointed out in her speech.

Frederika Meijer, UNFPA Representative in India and Buthan highlighted the importance of investing in and empowering adolescent girls in order to prevent and eliminate t he various forms of violence that adolescent girls experience. “Ensuring the human rights of the girl child and providing quality education and opportunities for a healthy development are critical steps to reach to her full potential. With these investments she is more likely to marry later, delay childbearing, have healthier children and earn higher incomes. Consequently, she can invest in her family, society and the nation. Let every girl be a part of the nation’s development agenda and she will do her part,” she said.

Besides reinforcing the value of girls in society, the second phase of the #ENDviolence campaign aims at raising awareness about different forms of violence, including physical, emotional, sexual and child marriage. It builds on the idea that every child has the right to a happy childhood free of violence and for that to happen we all play an important role.

Breaking away from social messages that transfer the onus of action to everyone out there, this initiative’s umbrella theme cut across the us and them divide and talk in first person: I can #ENDviolence because #ItStartsWithMe.

Ending violence against children is a challenging task as often they suffer in silence and many times adults turn a blind eye to the problem. It can only be ended by collective realization and empowerment by speaking out, reporting cases and not adopting violent practices. Surely, this needs to be associated with efforts to: strengthen a comprehensive package services for survivors of violence, including child and women friendly justice, health and counselling services; to raise awareness in all contexts; to ensure safety of women and girls.

“Violence against women and children is one of the most pressing challenges of our times, and I believe that it is our responsibility, as the future of this nation, that we shed light to this issue and help change the structures that facilitate this systemic oppression. It is a pre-requisite for our development, as a society, to help build an egalitarian system where the oppressed half of the population is given their rightful due. I am glad that this campaign is focussing on raising awareness on the same and hope that the ensuing discussions will lead to tangible solutions on ground,” concluded Akhil Kumar, Senior Editor at Youth Ki Awaaz.

Note to the editors:

The campaign is supported by a series of partners that will contribute to disseminate the Baap Wali Baat song as well as other campaign materials through their respective networks and platforms. PVR Nest (social program and registered foundation of India’s cinema exhibition company, PVR Ltd) will promote it on digital channels; AROI will leverage radio time of private FM channels; Blogadda, will act as blogging community partner; Rocketalk and Line will share the video on their mobile platforms; Claym Media will collaborate to maximize the reach of the song on mobile platforms; YouTube will feature the anthem of the campaign on their social media channels. Other organizations like Youth Ki Awaaz, Protsahan and Nine is Mine will also help to spread the word among the youth.

Watch the song here:


For more information about the #ENDviolence #ItStartsWithMe campaign:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/UNICEFIndia – #ENDviolence and #ItStartsWithMe

About UNICEF
UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do.  Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.
For more information about UNICEF and its work visit: www.unicef.org and www.unicef.org/india
For more information, please contact

  • Maria Fernandez,  Communication Specialist,  UNICEF India
Tel: +91-995 817 6291, Email: mfernandez@unicef.org
  • Geetanjali Master, Communication Specialist, UNICEF India
Tel: 91-981 810 5861, E-mail: gmaster@unicef.org
  • Sonia Sarkar, Communication Officer- Media, UNICEF India
Tel: +91-981 017 0289, E-mail: ssarkar@unicef.org


Caption:

On the eve of the International Day of the Girl Child, and as part of the second phase of the #ENDviolence campaign launched recently with the slogan #ItStartsWithMe, UNICEF India unveiled the Baap Wali Baat song, which presents a positive scenario free of violence where girls can thrive and develop to their full potential.



Sonia Sarkar
Communication Officer (Media) , UNICEF India
Tel (+91) 9810170289,9891861445;
Email: ssarkar@unicef.org

United Nations Children’s Fund
UNICEF House, 73 Lodi Estate, New Delhi,
Follow us on  Facebook   Twitter  and at  www.unicef.in

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