Avon Global Ambassador and Honorary Chairman of the Avon Foundation for Women Reese Witherspoon and Avon Chairman and CEO Andrea Jung awarded four global non-governmental organizations with the inaugural Avon Communications Awards: Speaking out about Violence against Women for their campaigns that bring attention to the need to end violence against women. The two presented the awards, funded by the Avon Foundation, at the 2nd World Conference of Women’s Shelters in Washington, D.C. The conference brought together more than 1,400 advocates, activists and leaders from 96 countries. The awards are part of the Avon Speak out against Domestic Violence program, which has donated nearly $40 million globally to end violence against women.

The Avon Foundation recognized the U.K.’s Women’s Aid, YWCA Canada, Rwanda Women Network and India’s Breakthrough for their exemplary communications campaigns. A global panel of judges selected the winners from among 19 finalists identified through an Avon Foundation-funded global survey to determine strengths and challenges in communicating efforts aimed at reducing violence against women. To view the award-winning campaigns in each of the four categories – Storytelling, Innovative Campaign, Break the Silence, and Global Excellence in Communications – as well as other finalists’ campaigns, visit: http://www.avonfoundation.org/globalspeakout/avon-communications-