Avon’s Witherspoon at UK House of Commons

Reese Witherspoon, Avon’s global ambassador, headlined a press conference at the UK’s House of Commons yesterday to promote a new campaign against domestic violence. The campaign, which has been launched jointly by Avon Cosmetics and Refuge, a national domestic violence charity, calls for more government support for women experiencing domestic violence in the UK.

The event marked the mid-point in ’16 Days of Activism’ which began on Nov. 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

Also joining Witherspoon at the event were Anna Segatti, president of Avon UK, Sandra Horley, chief executive officer of Refuge, Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, a human rights barrister and patron of Refuge, and domestic violence survivor Wendy Turner Webster.

The campaign asks support in several ways, including buying and wear an Avon empowerment necklace, sigining a petition calling for the UK Government to provide more support services for abused women and children, downloading a poster to display in your local community so that women know where to get help and inviting friends and family to join the campaign.

Avon has supported Refuge for the last two years, donating 80% of the UK proceeds of its empowerment necklace and bracelet to support services for abused women and children. The remaining 20% is donated to UNIFEM in the UK. Worldwide sales have raised $8.1 million, which has gone towards funding programs in 53 countries. Avon UK has pledged to more than double its support for domestic violence charities in 2010.

“Refuge is incredibly grateful to Avon for its unstinting support over the last two years,” Horley said. “In this current economic climate, where many corporates are tightening the purse strings, it is a huge reassurance to have such a dedicated partner. With Avon’s help we have been able to reach many more women and children living in the terrifying grip of domestic violence.”