In the photo are from right to left is our guest speaker, Enzo di Taranto, moderator and host Rotarian Josef Klee, and Incoming District governor of 7230 Karl Milde.Our guest speaker for the June 2009 breakfast meeting was Mr. Enzo di Taranto who was appointed as manager of the Secretary-General's UNite Campaign to End Violence against Women program in May of this year. With vast international experience in a wide range of management and leadership roles with the United Nations, European Union, and NGO's, Mr. Di Taranto also holds a Master degree in international relations from the Oriental University Institute in Italy. He has also received training at Harvard University and Ecole Nationale d'Administration in Paris. He is the author of several videos, websites, essays, and books on international affairs.
From the UN Website In February 2008, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched his campaign, “UNite to End Violence against Women,” a multi-year effort aimed at preventing and eliminating violence against women and girls in all parts of the world.
In November 2008, Academy Award-winning actress Charlize Theron was designated a UN Messenger of Peace with a focus on ending violence against women.
Violence against women not only constitutes a gross violation of human rights but also has enormous social and economic costs, and undercuts the contribution of women to development, peace and security. It poses a serious threat to the achievement of internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals.
Stretching from 2008 to 2015, the campaign calls on governments, civil society, women’s organizations, young people, the private sector, the media and the entire UN system to join forces in addressing the global pandemic of violence against women and girls. It builds on existing Women and Men United to End Violence against Women and Girls international legal and policy frameworks and harnesses the strong momentum around the issue, reflected in a growing number of initiatives by UN system partners, Governments and NGOs.“There is no blanket approach to fighting violence against women. What works in one country may not lead to desired results in another. Each nation must devise its own strategy,” said the Secretary-General at the launch of the campaign. “But there is one universal truth, applicable to all countries, cultures and communities: violence against women is never acceptable, never excusable, never tolerable.”
