United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) Saturday launched a global campaign to end violence against women.

The initiative dubbed Say NO - UNiTE launched in Nairobi will stimulate, count and showcase actions on ending violence against women.

The innovative platform will also spotlight global efforts and demonstrate the groundswell of support and actions on the issue.

Kicking off the international effort, UNIFEM Executive Director Inés Alberdi along with the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Development, Esther Murugi Mathenge, met with patients and staff at the Gender-Based Violence Recovery Centre at Kenyatta Hospital which provides a one-stop shop to survivors of sexual violence.

It is estimated that up to 70 percent of women experience physical or sexual violence from men.  

"What I have seen first-hand today in Kenya is the impact of effective work at the grassroots level, yet there is an urgent need for governments to make this issue a top priority and take decisive action" said Alberdi.

Murugi assured the government will continue to deliver more services and resources for survivors as well as prevention programs.

The multi-year initiative campaign targets to reach 100,000 actions by March 2010 and 1 million actions in one year.  

Actions to be showcased and counted include reaching out to students at schools, to volunteering at local shelters, advocating for legislation or donating funds towards programmes that protect women and girls from violence.