Reporter and co-host of FOX 5’s Good Day New York Rosanna Scotto hosted the UN Women For Peace Association (UNWFPA) Luncheon on May 3 at Casa Cipriani.
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Over the years, UNWFPA has made it its mission to empower women and promote gender equality. They have created a space that allows women to enjoy their rights and fundamental freedoms. During the Luncheon, UNWFPA President Rema DuPont presented a posthumous Legacy Award for Muna, accepted by her husband, H.E. Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al- Nasser. DuPont also announced that the association is launching a new campaign called Counting On Men. She explained, “Over 94% of violence against women stems from men, which affirms our belief that the solution does too.” She continued to explain that no progress will happen until we address the issues with boys and men about the violence against girls and women.
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Actress Fran Drescher made the keynote address, sharing her powerful story about being a victim of rape and being both a victim and survivor. She stated, “I became a victim of violence when I was raped at gunpoint in my own home by a man I did not know, who was out on parole. But I was one of the lucky ones because I lived to identify my assailant and see him sentenced to 150 years in prison. Still, for a year afterwards, I felt like a mirror image of myself that was cracked in a thousand pieces. But connecting to one’s trauma, turning pain into purpose, and time are all healing. I am a survivor!”
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Amongst those honored was Ambassador Rosemary A. DiCarlo, who received the Leadership Award for her decades of work as a peacekeeper and an advocate for women’s rights. The Honorable Joanne King Herring received the Lifetime Achievement Award for her outstanding achievements and years of work to end human trafficking and for helping survivors, which are disproportionately women and children. Kevin Hyland OBE received the Advocacy Award for his remarkable contributions to ending violence against women and girls everywhere. Vicki Hollub received the Humanitarian Award for her outstanding achievements in rescuing over 500 girls, and their families, by bringing them safely from Afghanistan to Portugal. Christian Elliott received the Media Award for his heroic efforts to end modern-day slavery. There were also performances by Wendy Moten singing Somewhere Over The Rainbow and country star Drew Baldridge singing his original song, She’s Somebody’s Daughter.
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The annual luncheon included guests such as Reagan and Doug Bauer, Rita Cosby, Amanda Diaz, and Kat Graham, who presented one of the awards. Also in attendance were AnnaLynne McCord with Benjamin W. Decker, Denise Schwartz and Marc Rosen, Barbara Tober, as well as UNWFPA Board of Directors Michal Grayevsky, Valbona Neritani, and Anne Marie Dougherty.
