The Deputy United Nations Secretary-General is calling on some of the world's richest countries to lead the way in taking concrete steps to support women and girls.

Asha-Rose Migiro was addressing a Ministerial-level conference in Rome on violence against women being held under the auspices of the Italian presidency of the Group of Eight (G8).

The Deputy Secretary-General said women and girls are exposed to a greater risk of violence during times of hardship.

Ms Migiro noted that the scourge of violence against women has worsened as a result of the global financial downturn over the past year.

United Nations Associate spokesman Farhan Haq has more.

"In a recent survey of more than 630 domestic violence shelters in the United States, 75 per cent report an increase in women seeking help for abuse since September 2008, coinciding with a major downturn in the US economy, she said. "We must remain especially vigilant through these tough times. Ms. Migiro detailed to the conference some of the steps taken by the UN to end violence against women and girls."

These steps include the UN Secretary-General's UNiTE campaign, which calls on world leaders to launch national campaigns aimed at preventing and eliminating violence against women and girls in all parts of the world.