Stardoll Backs 16 Days Campaign: Help Stop Violence Against Women

STOCKHOLM and NEW YORK, Nov. 30, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Stardoll, the world's largest online entertainment and social networking site for teen girls today announced its global support for the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20101230/422555 )

The 16 Days Campaign, an initiative of the Center for Women's Global Leadership (CWGL), now in its 20th year, is an international campaign that seizes the power of hundreds of local organizations to raise global awareness about violence against women. The campaign was launched on November 25th, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and ends 16 days later on December 10th, International Human Rights Day.

Radhika Balakrishnan, Executive Director of the Center for Women's Global Leadership comments: "The Center for Women's Global Leadership is excited to be working with Stardoll on the 16 Days Campaign. We hope this partnership will help young people learn more about all of the positive work already being done to address violence against women and girls, and will get them involved in the cause too. After all - they are the ones who will be leading our future!"

In support of the 16 Days Campaign, Stardoll established an area on the site where members were introduced to the campaign, can visit the 16 Days Campaign's Facebook page and sign a Peace Pledge, as well as receive a virtual purple ribbon in their suite—the purple ribbon is globally known as a visible gesture of support for survivors and victims of domestic violence. Members will also be designing their own 16 Days themed clothing through the virtual StarDesign studio, which will be featured throughout the campaign. To date, an astonishing 96,000 members have participated and joined the 16 Days Campaign on Stardoll.

Stardoll members can also be part of ongoing Q&A sessions with several high- profile, global leaders to provide the girls with an avenue to discuss issues around violence, abuse and forming healthy relationships. To date, there have been nearly 7,400 questions to guest leaders

- Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda – Human rights lawyer and General Secretary of the World YWCA

- Radhika Balakrishnan – Economist and Executive Director of the Center for Women's Global Leadership

- Sharon Bhagwan Rolls – Media Activist and founding member of fem'LINKpacific

"Stardoll is delighted to support the 16 Days Campaign and its mission to raise awareness and stop violence against women globally," said Mattias Miksche, CEO of Stardoll. "The 16 Days message has truly resonated with our members, who have indicated their support by creating over 28,000 designs in less than a week."

More about Stardoll

The Stardoll Network is the world's leading group of websites devoted to young women and teens. Launched in early 2009, the network includes: Stardoll.com – the entertainment destination for young women focused on fame, fashion and friends; Piczo.com – the original platform devoted to social self expression and visual blogging; and PaperDollHeaven.com – a simpler game-play environment for the younger, female demographic. The Stardoll Network works with the world's largest brands as they look to engage with an increasingly elusive teen audience. The network is the number one publisher in ComScore's teen category, both in Europe and globally. The business is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden with offices in the US, UK and Germany, and is backed by two of the world's top venture capital firms: Sequoia Capital and Index Ventures.

More About the Center for Women's Global Leadership (CWGL)

CWGL promotes women's leadership development and advances feminist perspectives in economic and social rights and violence against women in local, national and international arenas. CWGL carries out its work through: academic analysis; UN advocacy; activism; human rights education and research; strategic conversations; publications and resources; and international campaigns including the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign and the Gender Equality Architecture Reform (GEAR) Campaign.

SOURCE Stardoll