NEW YORK-A group of 70 climbers, including the CEO of United Nations FCU, that reached the summit of Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro to bring attention to the fight against gender-based violence in Africa, has returned to sea level.
The five-day climb was organized as part of the Africa UNiTE to End Violence against Women Campaign, supported by UN Women, UN country teams in Africa, the Kilimanjaro Initiative and UNFCU.
It is estimated that between 13% to 45% of women suffer assault by intimate partners during their lifetimes in Africa, and most of the crimes are committed against girls younger than 15, explained Elisabeth Philippe, corporate communications manager at UNFCU. "The climbers drew attention to this pandemic of violence."
The climb was founded in 2005 and Philippe said this year's number of participants more than doubled the normal contingent. In the group was now four-time climber Michael Connery, Jr., UNFCU CEO. "This climb has literally brought the fight against gender violence to new heights. There was a great sense of determination on the mountain, and may this be a strong sign of the progress to come," he said.
Climb organizer Tim Challen, founder of the Kilimanjaro Initiative and business development manager at UNFCU, went along for the grueling summit march. "Mount Kilimanjaro has the power to bring people together and underline the fact that nothing is impossible, as long as you believe you can do it and work together," he said.
On the day of the summit was reached, UNFCU and UN staff members who could not make the trip and hike 20,000 feet, completed a symbolic climb, marching up 20,000 steps in the United Nations headquarters.
