In the two weeks leading up to International Women’s Day on 8 March, thousands of Say NO – UNiTE supporters joined the “I Say NO” testimonial drive via interactive discussions on Facebook and Twitter, and by sharing and watching videos on the issue on YouTube.

Notable partner organizations, such as Yves Saint Laurent, CARE and The Pixel Project, participated in the Say NO – UNiTE social media campaign, and reached thousands of additional users through their own social media platforms. YSL and others engaged their fans and followers by saying “NO to Violence against Women, one of the most widespread human rights violations. Why do you Say NO?” Care tweeted: “#ISayNO Raise your voice against violence… Together we can make ending violence against women a priority”.  Abraham on Facebook responded, “I say no because men and women should be equal. I say no because all the women in my life have taught me that, in one way or another.” To see more responses, click here.

During the course of the testimonial drive, Twitter and Facebook users added a special Say NO – UNiTE ribbon to their profile pictures to show their support. Say NO Facebook fans also participated in the discussion forum “Why do YOU say NO?” The forum allows participants to express why and how they take action in their communities to end violence against women and girls , interact with other activists and, most importantly, tell their own personal stories. In parallel to the discussion forum, 1049 Twitter followers voiced their thoughts using “#ISayNO”, forming a collective stream of voices to reach out to survivors as well as governments worldwide to stress that ending violence against women and girls must become a reality. Read some of the featured Facebook and Twitter comments below.

As part of an ongoing action to watch and share the best videos on YouTube that address the issue of violence against women, Say NO received moving and insightful suggestions to feature on its YouTube channel every Monday. Featured videos in the past few weeks included: Sin by Silence’s “What’s Your Red Flag?,” which highlights the warning signs of abusive relationships, and EngenderHealth’s “Men as Partners: Thoko’s Story,” in which a South African gender activist and survivor of violence narrates her empowering story on the three father figures in her life and how she began to heal from her abuse.

Have a video you’d like to see featured on Say NO’s channel? Send us your video suggestions along with the YouTube video link to sayno.video[at]unifem.org. Don’t forget to also join the discussion on Say NO’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

Featured comments on Facebook:

Ine Lea: “I say NO to violence against women because it is a serious obstacle in achieving gender equality, and because women’s rights are human rights too!”

Lauren Vander Cryusse: “I say NO, because violence against women is a serious obstacle to the realisation of justice and peace all over the world. Violence against women deprives women of their fundamental human rights and violates the integrity of their minds and bodies!”

Richard A Adams: “Posted and passed on...........” (in response to the Say NO video of the week)

Anis Qureshi: “We must unite for the cause....end violence against women”

Berit Emanuelsson: “Right! End voilence against women are the most important global issue!! And unite for the cause will make us stronger!!”

Anis Qureshi: “I feel glad really”

Elsa Benrós: “The statements of principles are fundamental, such as the ratification of international instruments, however the implementation of these principles remains a major challenge” (in response to a post on the first national survey about violence against women in Iraq from the Al-Hakim Foundation Iraq)

Gene Yakub: “I absolutely agree with Elsa. I do not minimise the importance of putting legal instruments in place, which are finally exactly just those: "instruments" for us to use or not. Hopefully they will empower women themselves to use them, but the police and judiciary must be equally committed to doing their part honestly and without prejudice.” (in response to a post on the first national survey about violence against women in Iraq from the Al-Hakim Foundation Iraq)

Aboud Erfan:
“Why in the world are we here
Surely not to live in pain and fear
Why on earth are you there
When you're everywhere
Come and get your share
UNITE to End Violence Against Women.”

Featured comments on Twitter:

Rosasparamin: @SayNO_UNiTE I took action !!!! and signed the petition!! #ISayNO

Carmillelim: I signed up! @UNIFEM's @SayNO_UNiTE Coordinator will present @PixelProject 2nd Wkend Webinar on 27 March '10

Care_Aware: #ISayNO for each woman out there who - for whatever reason(s) - is unable to do it for herself, right now! #vaw #dv

CanAct: #ISayNO Up to 70% of women experience physical or sexual violence from men globally. Let’s stop it: Join Say NO.

MKwrites: RT @sinbysilence: RT @SayNO_UNiTE: #ISayNO in less than a minute by watching "Lets End Violence against Women" on Intern. Women’s day!

wellheeled: RT @SayNO_UNiTE: It takes many forms – domestic violence in the home, sexual abuse of girls in schools, rape as a tactic of war #ISayNO

spencer4choice: RT @PixelProject: RT @50millionmissin support for our petition against female genocide in India #ISayNO via @safeworld4women

Follow Say NO