In July last year the Secretary-General’s UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign proclaimed every 25th of the month as Orange Day. Initiated and led by the UNiTE campaign Global Youth Network, worldwide activities implemented on this day by UN country offices and civil society organizations strive to highlight issues relevant to preventing and ending violence against women and girls, not only once a year, on 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women), but every month. On October 25 the UNiTE campaign will highlight ‘Safe Public Spaces for Women and Girls’.

The Metropolis Women International Network is also working on the safety of women in cities. Last April 2013, Dr. Joan Clos, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, successfully inaugurated the First Symposium "Safe Cities Within the sphere of Public space and Gender"organized by Metropolis Women International Network with the support of UN- Habitat, Barcelona Metropolitan Area, Barcelona City Council, Barcelona Provincial Council, the Government of Catalonia. Whatch the Symposium's video here.

The Metropolis Women International Network, in its Declaration of Brussels in 2007and Seoul in 2009, has established a series of actions and policies for gender equality in cities and encouraging its members to disseminate in their territories through their political agendas. Women, therefore, must be involved equally in all issues related to living conditions. This Symposium was raised as a result of these initial proposals.

The Second Symposium on Women and Security in Urban Space will take place in mid April 2014 in Barcelona (dates yet to be confirmed).

Source: UN-HABITAT and METROPOLIS