Updates from Johannesburg
Jan 21, 2015
First story
I write to you from Johannesburg, South Africa, during the FIFA World Cup, where our very first global summit is breaking ground and bringing together a diverse group of men and women (ages 18 to 30 years) from 50 countries.
This international forum is the first of its kind to fortify young leaders and their in-country movements to stop violence against women. Stay tuned for updates from the summit and meet some of the 500 inspiring delegates from over 50 countries who are at the helm of Man Up Campaign's movement to stop violence against women and girls. Watch the video!
Man Up Campaign is partnering with Cobi Jones and Brandi Chastain — two of the most heralded soccer players in United States history — to dare youth to ‘man up’ and stand up to violence against women and girls. Jones was the US Soccer Player of the Year in 1998 and is a two-time MLS Cup Winner and Chastain helped the US Women’s team capture the 1996 Olympic gold medal and 1999 Women’s World Cup title. These soccer legends are featured in a Man Up Campaign public service announcement that will be debuted at Man Up’s global summit during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in Johannesburg, South Africa. The summit will launch Man Up’s five-year campaign by bringing together 200 young leaders from 50 countries that are committed to stopping violence against women and girls.
Man Up Campaign has been lauded by President Barack Obama’s Ambassador-at-Large of Global Women's Issues and works in partnership with the United Nations, international and grassroots NGOs and key stakeholders from the sport and entertainment communities to engage youth. Man Up Campaign young ‘delegates’ are at the helm of the movement, leveraging the strength of their communities and working with international partners and local grassroots organizations to build long-term, sustainable change in their home countries.
“Using sport to engage youth to stop violence is an inspired idea,” says Cobi Jones. “My mother, a junior high school teacher, taught me the value of helping young people through education. I am proud to ‘man up’ and champion this remarkable movement that heralds human rights education. Man Up Campaign will make the world safer for women and girls around the world, I have no doubt.”
“There are a lot of things that soccer does in communities that transcend the soccer field,” says Brandi Chastain. “Man Up Campaign uses soccer for a most noble cause – as a vehicle to inspire youth to stop violence against women and girls. Man Up is a win-win -- for both men and women -- in the battle to stop an epidemic that impacts one of out of three women and girls around the world.”
