Avon spokeswoman, Reese Witherspoon, was on hand at a press conference in San Paulo, Brazil to celebrate the success of the cosmetic company’s global fundraising campaign product, the Women’s Empowerment Bracelet.
The Bracelet, which launched in March has sold over 1.5 million units to date. The bracelet fundraiser was announced just a few months ago at the second annual Global Summit for a Better Tomorrow, in conjunction with the United Nations Development Fund for Women. Proceeds from the sales of the Bracelets will go towards bettering the lives of women around the world and helping in the fight against domestic violence.
At the press conference held this week, Witherspoon was joined by Nilcea Freire, Brazils Federal Secretary for Women Policies, UNIFEM Regional Director for the Southern Cone, Ana Falu and domestic violence survivor and biochemist, Maria Da Penha Maia Fernandes, who has pioneered the fight against violence towards women in Brazil. Fernandes was instrumental in passing a law , named after her, prosecuting those who commit domestic violence acts,
“As the company for women, and on this occasion of 50 years in Brazil, Avon is keenly aware of how important it is to work to put an end to this type of violence,” says Luis Felipe Miranda, President of Avon Brazil. “We also understand how delicate the problem is, and the need to involve different sectors of society in this human rights issue which is why our public-private partnership with UNIFEM is so powerful.”
“I find it shocking that one billion women globally — that is one in every three women — are affected by violence at some point in their lives. In Latin America, between 30 and 40 percent of all women aged fifteen or older have been subjected to some form of violence, most often by a member of their own family,” said Ms. Witherspoon. “That’s a statistic we must try to change, and the Women’s Empowerment Bracelet is a great way for everyone to contribute.”
The Avon Foundation has matched the first $500,000 in sales from the bracelets and have so far donated $1 million for new grants by the UN Trust Fund. The donation represents the largest one year corporate contribution to date. Additional monies raised will go toward local domestic violence programs in countries where AVON has a presence.
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“We are thrilled to have Reese join us for the Avon Walk DC,” said Avon Foundation Executive Director Carol Kurzig. “During the past year, Reese has been a champion for the Avon Foundation’s commitment to women. Now she continues to lend her support to the Avon Foundation and to our Avon Walk participants in DC. We are excited that Reese will meet the women and men who are raising funds, and the researchers and organizations that are using those funds to save lives.”
