Kidman speaks out against abuse
Nicole Kidman stepped off the red carpet and on to the world diplomatic stage at the United Nations to continue her "Say NO to Violence Against Women" campaign.
Kidman, a UN Goodwill Ambassador, announced more than five million world leaders and citizens across the globe signed a petition promoting the issue, more than five times as many signatures expected.
"The reason I chose the subject of women is because I was raised by a mother who was very passionate about having her daughters educated, and wanted her daughters to have an equal opportunity," Kidman said at the UN headquarters in New York.
"I was the product of that, and now I'm out there hoping to pass on to the next generation and work in a greater capacity then just as an actress."
One in three women and girls are victims of abuse and the campaign calls for greater protection for women, the prosecution of abusers and increased efforts to end "attitudes and behaviour that condone, tolerate, excuse or ignore violence committed against women".
The 5,066,549 signatures included the names of 29 world leaders, 188 ministers and over 600 parliamentarians from more than 70 countries. Celebrities also signed on, including Bob Geldof, Catherine Deneuve and Hillary Swank.
Kidman, who gave birth to daughter Sunday Rose five months ago, said it was essential mothers discuss abuse with their daughters.
"This conversation that we are having helps families to then discuss," Kidman said.
"It helps mothers to be able to discuss it with daughters.
"It helps it to become not a subject that has a stigma attached to it, and therefore not discussed in schools.
"It needs to be discussed in schools, and young girls and young boys need to be educated."
Kidman has been busy in the US promoting her new Baz Luhrmann directed epic, Australia.
AAP
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