Ten years ago she gave the world a fairytale: the Australian Mary Donaldson married H.R.H. Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark in Copenhagen. Millions of viewers followed this huge event live on screen, and the romantic images of the royal wedding have seeped into our collective historic memory. But it was also on this day that the ground stone for a unique foundation was laid: the people of Denmark and Greenland raised and donated a national gift in honour of the Crown Prince Couple’s wedding. This national gift, combined with H.R.H. Crown Princess Mary’s vision of creating a different kind of foundation, became the first step toward establishing The Mary Foundation in 2007. It enabled her to fulfill a desire to give something back to society by making a difference to the many people who find themselves alone in the world.

The Mary Foundation's mission is to combat social isolation based on the belief that everyone has the right to belong. Through three main focus areas the foundation aims to support those who find themselves socially isolated or excluded from society – whether the isolation stems from bullying, domestic violence or loneliness. One particularly impressive project is the “Advice for Life” program, which offers financial, legal and social advice to women who are the victims of domestic violence. “Advice for Life” supports and empowers these women so that they create an independent life free of violence for themselves and their children.

In addition to the Mary Foundation, Crown Princess Mary is a passionate advocate for health, empowerment and rights issues, with particular focus on women, adolescent girls, children and vulnerable groups and she has developed a global network of contacts and charitable patronages in the social, health and humanitarian field. She is patron of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Maternity Foundation, the World Health Organization – Regional Office for Europe (WHO/Europe), and Danish Refugee Council (DRC), amongst others. She travels the world tirelessly for these causes and visits a broad range of humanitarian projects. The Crown Princess wants to hear the stories firsthand of those affected, spreading hope as she does. She applies the experiences she has had on her travels actively to her causes and the foundation in order to help people as effectively as possible. Earlier this year, when the Crown Princess visited Estonia, where she spoke at a conference about the Mary Foundation’s work and her personal dedication: “The vision of the Mary Foundation means a lot to me personally. I have always found it very difficult and upsetting to see people who, for whatever reason, find themselves alone, marginalized and isolated by society. This is a feeling I remember clearly form childhood and it is with me to the very day.  There is something so very unfair and wrong about a man, a women, a boy or a girl standing completely alone in this world.”

I would like to thank Herr Dr. Burda, for presenting this prize in recognition of the need to fight for the rights of women and girls and their right to a life free of violence.

Gender based violence is one of the most pervasive crimes against human rights in the world today and the strongest manifestation of inequality in our societies.

It penetrates all areas of life and despite efforts to curb it over the last two decades; gender based violence continues to persist in all layers of society and in all countries of the world.  

Disturbingly, in the member states of the European Union, one in three women has experienced physical and /or sexual violence from the age of 15.  And how often do you think an adolescent girl dies as a result of violence in the world; every 30 minutes, every 20 minutes or every 10 minutes?

Shockingly, it is every 10 minutes.

Beyond the enforcement of legislation, we have to recognize that the elimination of gender based violence requires a change of mind – and of mindsets. We need to create a paradigm shift – this issue is NOT just a women’s issue.  There can be no bystanders.  

It is an issue of universal human rights, equal rights between men and women and, human dignity that concerns us all, involves us all, and requires concerted and urgent action from all of us. We must stand together and speak out for zero tolerance.  We must ask ourselves; how can we ensure a generation in which violence against women and girls is no longer viewed as acceptable?

Less than a year from now, the international community will adopt a new global framework for sustainable development, a framework which will build on the achievements of the eight Millennium Development Goals.  However, despite the achievements made, gaps continue to persist and women and girls sadly have been left behind.

Now exists the opportunity, to support the empowerment of women and girls, to fight for gender equality and the elimination of violence against women and girls.  This represents the basic elements for a people centered, socially just and effective global agenda that will benefit all of humanity and which will yield returns for both present and future generations.

I am truly honored to accept this award tonight. And I accept it in recognition of; all the champions of a world free of violence against women and girls and all those women, men, boys and girls who have broken the silence and cycle of violence.   

And I accept this BAMBI Award as a ‘torch of hope’ for every woman and girl living in violence or the fear of violence.

Vielen Dank