NICOLE KIDMAN - NICOLE KIDMAN JOINS UN CALL TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Nicole Kidman has lent her support to the United Nations (UN) campaign to eliminate global violence against women.

The Oscar-winning actress appeared at UN headquarters in New York City to call for greater support for the Say No to Violence Against Women petition, which has amassed more than 200,000 signatures since its launch last November.

Kidman, a goodwill ambassador for the UN's Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) since 2006, said she was urging people to add their names to the petition to help women and children around the world have a "better life".

"Every voice counts, and every amount counts," Kidman said at Wednesday's press conference. "Let survivors of violence around the world know that they can count on us.

"One in three women will encounter violence in some way, shape or form against them in their lifetime," the Golden Compass star added.

"That's an extraordinary statistic. Yet do we ever hear it?"

The 40-year-old, who is currently seven months pregnant with her first child with country star Keith Urban, urged people across the globe to add their names to the petition to demand that "ending violence against women be made a top priority for governments everywhere".

Joanne Sandler, UNIFEM Executive Director, said that by adding a signature, "citizens send an unequivocal message to leaders around the world, letting their governments know that they want to see decisive action".

"They want to see an end to impunity, services for survivors and - most importantly - strong investments in prevention," she added.