Hollywood abets violence against women: Kidman

Nicole Kidman conceded on Wednesday that Hollywood has probably contributed to violence against women by portraying them as weak sex objects. The Oscar-winning actress said she is not interested in those kinds of demeaning roles, adding that the movie industry also has made an effort to contribute to solutions for ending the violence.

Kidman testified before a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee that is considering legislation to address violence against women overseas through humanitarian relief efforts and grants to local organisations working on the problem.

Asked by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-California, if the movie industry has “played a bad role,” Kidman said “probably,”' but quickly added that she herself doesn’t.
“I can’t be responsible for all of Hollywood but I can certainly be responsible for my own career,” she said.

Kidman appeared before the committee in her role as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Development Fund for Women, known as UNIFEM, to promote the International Violence Against Women Act.

Law enforcement

“In the real world, the laws go unenforced and impunity is the norm,” she said.
The legislation has been stalled in the past, but a sponsor, Rep. Bill Delahunt, D-Mass., said he and others plan to reintroduce it soon.
The Australian star told Congress that the United Nations  women’s fund needs more resources. “We need the money,” she said.