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To mark the 98th International Women’s Day on 8 March, Avon launched an ‘Empowerment Necklace’ in support of their Avon Against Domestic Violence Campaign, which aims to raise vital funds and awareness of domestic violence. Domestic violence is a hidden crime and the biggest killer, globally, of women between 15 and 44 years of age. Last year, the sale of Avon’s global Empowerment Bracelet raised more than $3.5 million globally for the same cause.

This year’s global campaign was launched in Washington, D.C., USA, by Andrea Jung, Chairman and CEO Avon Products Inc., and supported by actress Reese Witherspoon, the company’s global ambassador. Reese is pictured wearing the Empowerment Necklace.

In the UK, it is estimated that one in four women is impacted by domestic violence.

Avon’s UK Representatives will distribute 3.2 million brochures during a three-week campaign, and the brochures will be seen by six million women. All UK proceeds from the sale of the Empowerment Necklace will go to Refuge UK, a national charity for women and children suffering from domestic violence, and the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM).

Also supporting the campaign against domestic violence in the UK is Cherie Blair, an active campaigner on equality and civil rights issues. As a patron of Refuge, Cherie Blair said: “Rarely is female empowerment expressed in stronger terms than by the pioneering, domestic violence charity Refuge. Domestic violence tears lives apart; Refuge helps to put them back together again. This is why their partnership with Avon is so fantastic and why I am urging everyone to wear Avon’s new Empowerment Necklace as a sign that domestic violence will not be tolerated.”

Sandra Horley, OBE and Chief Executive of Refuge, said: “We are grateful for the continued support of Avon, especially in the current economic climate. It is Avon’s commitment that enables Refuge to provide a lifeline for thousands of women and children living in the terrifying grip of domestic violence. We urge women everywhere to buy Avon’s Empowerment Necklace so that Refuge can continue to save lives.”

As Avon celebrates 50 years of empowering women in the UK this year, their commitment to supporting women’s causes is stronger than ever. To break the wall of silence surrounding domestic violence, the company feels that friends and family as well as the victim should be given the tools to speak more openly about the abuse being suffered in far too many homes.

For more information on Avon’s campaign against domestic violence, visit http://www.avon.com.