Statistics can be staggering. 50 percent of women worldwide are victims of physical or sexual violence. 70 percent of women and girls will be beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in their lifetime. 500,000 people are trafficked into “slavery” every year; 80 percent of these are women.

On April 21, people of all ages gathered in Hugh MacRae Park, in spite of the chill wind, to support UN Women and raise awareness of issues like these.

UN Women is a division of the United Nations that promotes gender equality around the world. The 4th Annual UN Women Walk to End Violence Against Women and Girls raised money for the UN Women Trust Fund.

“I support anything that brings recognition to domestic violence issues,” Lena Rollinson said. “It hits close to home.”

Rollinson said this was her second year volunteering at the walk.

The fact that Rollinson was personally invested in the issues being raised wasn’t unusual. Almost every person at the walk-volunteer, vender, donator or otherwise-had some contact with a victim of violence.

Yolanda Norwood, UN Women USNC Regional Vice President, said that’s part of the purpose of the event.

“We want to get the local community involved so we can bring awareness to the services women can use to find help,” Norwood said.

The local women’s shelter was on hand to give out information on services. The local United Way chapter was present, as well as local media and Mayor Bill Saffo.

UNC Wilmington student groups were also present to support the 3K/5K walk/run.

Soo Kim-Godwin, a UNCW nursing school instructor, was on hand with many nursing students, giving out free health checkups as well as educating people on healthy eating habits.

The UNCW Model UN Association managed stations throughout the course, testing participants on their knowledge of global violence against women and girls.

UNCW Amnesty International students and the UNCW ONE club were also brought a voice to the cause.

Despite all the community involvement, Norwood said the most shocking thing is that there is no local or university chapter of UN Women.

“We have double what we had show up last year,” said Norwood, “community involvement has grown and grown over the three years. I have been directing the walks but we still don’t have a local chapter.”

Amidst the music, the handing out of door prizes and children laughing while getting their faces painted, there was a common thread shared by almost every person at the event.

Over the stereo system, just before the Zumba warm up and the start of the walk, Ashlea Kosikowski brought the statistics to life.

“Look around and count out ten people in the crowd-adults, children, men or women, young or not-six of these people are victims,” Kosikowski said. “Everybody knows someone who has been or who have been themselves a victim. 6 in 10.”

The wind blowing over the sound system didn’t hide Kosikowski choking back tears.

“I was shocked to learn that 6 in 10 women are like me,” she said. “Events like these help me to understand I’m not alone.”

Everyone present believed the 4th Annual UN Walk was a success. Yet Norwood says her goal is to continue to raise awareness and make connections.

“Last year the women’s shelter kept getting calls and emails about the walk even though they didn’t have anything to do with it,” Norwood said. “Events like this give us the chance to network within the community.”

As the event closed, Norwood read a quote that she said was at the core of explaining why so many people take part in events like this:

“In Wilmington there are walks almost every weekend for one cause or another, but Secretary General Bon Ki-moon said, ‘There is one universal truth, applicable to all countries, cultures and communities: violence against women is never acceptable, never excusable, never tolerable.’ That’s why so many people support UN Women.”