http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2WeCBqBrJw&feature=share&list=PLusN4ons5Xim9B_wltbovwkCc8MsGFnh6&index=1 The Zonta Club of Kitchener-Waterloo wanted to mark the 16 days in a way that might resonate with the community. Sixteen members of the Club are hoping to make a difference by speaking out on an aspect of violence against women and children that is particularly meaningful to them.
Make a sound that will be heard around the world: Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women and Girls.
Dr. Susan Harmon, President of Zonta Club of Lincoln presenting cell phones to Carrie Gave, Logan County Sojurn | Logan County Herald
The Zonta Club of Lincoln recently gave donations to the Logan County Court Advocate’s office for Sojourn Shelter to support local domestic violence victims. So far in 2013, the Court Advocate’s office has assisted 70 clients with Emergency Orders of Protection and provides ongoing assistance. The club collected used cell phones which can be re-programmed and given to women to call 911 in an emergency. Zonta Club of Lincoln also used $800 of last year’s turkey dinner profits to set up a fund at Lincoln IGA.
Many domestic violence victims have no choice but to “grab the kids and run.” They often have no formula, food, or diapers or any means to buy them. Charlie Lee at Lincoln IGA has often quietly provided items to these families at no cost to them. Zonta Club of Lincoln chose to support his efforts to help local domestic violence victims. Access to this fund will be given only by the Sojourn Court Advocate to the neediest clients. The community’s ongoing support of the annual Zonta Turkey Dinner allowed this generous donation.
Zonta Club of Lincoln is part of Zonta International, which has 30,000 members in 65 countries worldwide. Zonta recently launched “Zonta Says No,” an international campaign to raise awareness of and increase actions to end violence against women and girls both locally and around the world.
More information: http://logancountyherald.com/454/53836/a/lincoln-zonta-donates-to-sojourn-shelter
On 25 November, the Zonta Club of Gaylord Area fought high winds, cold temperatures and snow to honor the United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women by assembling a display on the courthouse lawn. 128 flags were solemnly placed. Each flag representing one of the reported Otsego County victims of domestic abuse or sexual assult from this past year. The Zonta Says No Banner was displayed behind the flags.
Jessica O’Dell, Victim Advocate for Otsego County, provided the statistics used by Zonta. From 1 October 2012 to 30 September 2013 there were 11 child abuse, 9 criminal sexual conduct and 108 domestic assault cases reported in Otsego County. Gina Theriault, local Zonta member and Community Corrections Services Program/Case Manger comments that “These are recorded numbers of abuse, and there are many more instances that are never reported. It is our goal to bring awareness to the situation and work towards reducing domestic violence within our community. If you are a victim of domestic abuse or rape/sexual assault we encourage you to call the Women’s Resource Center for help.” Jan Maninelli, Executive Director of the Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan commented that “In addition to the numbers you already have, the Women’s Center served 23 sexual assault victims that would be among the numbers not reported to the police and/or prosecutor.”
Local Zonta members are collecting non-perishable food items for the Safe Home of the Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign. The Safe Home serves women escaping abuse from a five county area including Otsego County. Staff from Gaylord’s office will drive Otsego County residents to the Safe Home located in Petoskey.
Last year, the Safe Home provided 119 domestic abuse survivors and their children with 3,382 nights of refuge. Families were provided with more than 10,100 meals, as well as all their daily needs. Domestic abuse services for survivors are provided at no cost. The Zonta Club of Gaylord Area also sponsors an annual scholarship through the Women’s Resource Center to help Otsgeo County Women returning to school after escaping abuse.
Amber Theriault, President of the Zonta Club of Gaylord Area comments that “it is vital we not only support and advocate for local women, but also for women throughout our world. It is disturbing that one in three girls will experience violence. By better understanding the plight of victims on an international level we can better understand domestic developments. Look at human trafficking. It is an international problem that has become one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States. Gangs have discovered that it is easier to obtain ‘product’ and that they are less likely to be prosecuted than when dealing drugs. Zonta International has worked to inform members through annual workshops and conferences so that we can better serve our communities. If you visit a rest-stop along I-96, you’ll likely to see one of Zonta International District 15’s posters translated in three languages with the Michigan Human Trafficking Hotline phone number.”
The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence is an international campaign originating from the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute sponsored by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership in 1991. Zonta International’s nearly 1,200 clubs in 65 countries are participating in this effort in their local communities in support of Zonta Says NO, a campaign to raise awareness of and increase actions to end violence against women and girls around the world through service and advocacy.
“We cannot and must not ignore the fact that violence against women and girls is still pervasive in all kinds of countries and societies, with one in three girls impacted during their lifetime,” said Zonta International President Lynn McKenzie. “It’s in our backyard. Zonta International has been committed to its prevention and eradication for many years. In 2013, as the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women focuses on fighting violence against women, we support the initiative with ‘Zonta Says NO’.”
Since June 2012, the Zonta International Foundation has raised more than $600,000 to fight violence against women. Zonta clubs across the world have organized more than 40 events as part of Zonta Says NO, from panel discussions on violence against women and screenings of topical films, to displaying Zonta Says NO banners and hosting charity auctions.
Zonta Says NO began in November 2012 and will continue through December 2013, focusing on the service and advocacy actions of Zonta clubs and districts to prevent and end violence against women and girls in their local communities. Zonta International’s ongoing efforts to end violence against women and girls are carried out through the Zonta International Strategies to End Violence against Women (ZISVAW) program and through Zonta’s partnerships with the United Nations and its agencies.
The launch of the Zonta Club of Adelaide Hills Inc. (and Mount Barker) “Expect Respect” project with the Mount Barker Primary School was a great success, attended by around 100 people including many uniformed police officers. The project that displayed students’ artwork was most impressive and the 2014 Calendar is very professional. White Ribbon Ambassador Derrick McManus spoke brilliantly to the children, and led the group outside to shout “Mount Barker Says NO!”, which was heard clearly by all around the Mt Barker Library/TAFE precinct! The Mt Barker Police were also presented with a cheque for new DV Alarms. A “Zonta Says NO” display remains on show at the Mt Barker Library.
“Walk in My Shoes”
The official opening of the Zonta Club of Adelaide’s exhibition at Bank SA in King William Street by Jane Kittel Managing Director of Bank SA and Maria Haggias CEO at Central Domestic Violence was very well attended by guests from community organisations, Zonta, members of parliament and others. The display of women’s and children’s shoes looks wonderful and, along with Zonta’s “Zonta Says NO” banner, holds prominent pride of place in the foyer and cannot be missed by any customers who enter. The exhibition runs throughout the 16 days of Gender Activism until Human Rights Day on 10 December – try and pop in, the stories attached are very moving and well worth reading.
This event received local converage. More information appears at: http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2013/11/25/3898528.htm
SAPOL’s Inspector Peter Kennedy and Zonta International’s Erica Majba at the Walk In My Shoes launch (Brett Williamson – ABC Adelaide)
Zonta International’s Erica Majba and SAPOL’s Inspector Peter Kennedy at the Walk In My Shoes launch discuss White Ribbon Day and the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
The Zonta Club of Bendigo shows their support to Zonta Says NO on 25 November for their community’s White Ribbon March (click the photo to see more information on the club’s Facebook Page).
From the Bendigo Advertiser:
Zonta Club of Bendigo members supported White Ribbon Day on Monday with members voicing a clear message, ‘Zonta Says No’.
Zonta is an international organisation which aims to advance the status of women worldwide through service and advocacy. ‘Zonta Says No’ is a global campaign to end violence against women and children.
Bendigo members have been publicly spreading their message for the past 12 months.
The Zonta Club of Bendigo has worked in partnership with White Ribbon Foundation, the United Nations and the Zonta International Strategies to End Violence against Women.
District 23 Governor and Bendigo Zonta member Ann Horrocks said it was important for the community to take a stand.“Our major focus is to support women and children,” she said. “Part of our service and advocacy is to provide programs to eliminate violence against women.”
Horrocks said White Ribbon Day was about highlighting ‘a big problem’ in gender equality. “We need to stand up and support each other,” she said. “Violence against women is prevalent in Bendigo.We shouldn’t be bystanders anymore. If you see something make a stand.”
Horrocks said Zonta Bendigo would continue to campaign against violence against women.
http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/1931043/zonta-is-taking-a-stand-against-violence/
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson stands with members of the Zonta Club of Columbia, South Carolina, USA, joining the campaign Zonta says No to Violence against Women.
The Zonta Club of Long Island has been involved in to helping raise awareness of violence against women.
Listed below are some of their projects:
The Wellington Civic Square was ablaze with orange balloons, streamers and banners – Zonta’s International’s Zonta Says NO campaign colours. Orange ribbons were handed out to passersby as a symbolic statement of the Zonta says NO to violence against women campaign.
The Zonta Club of Wellington, New Zealand brought this serious issue to the attention of Wellingtonians on Sunday, 24 November. Supported by representatives from other women’s organizations, women and men got together to make a stand against gender-based violence and to highlight the “ZONTA says NO” Campaign – How safe is Wellington for women and girls.
Zonta’s International President Lynn McKenzie opened proceedings saying, “We cannot and must not ignore the fact that violence against women and girls is still pervasive in all countries and societies. One in three girls will be impacted during their lifetime,” she said, “Violence against women is in our own backyard!” How safe is our city? Are you concerned about the safety of your women and girls as they go about their business and activities in our community?
These are some of the questions that were put to mayoral candidates earlier in September at a debate organized by the Zonta Club of Wellington, facilitated by media commentator and presenter Linda Clark. While it was acknowledged that Wellington has World Health Organisation status as being a “safe city”, more can be done to further reduce violence against women and girls in Wellington.
Zonta International is committed to the prevention and eradication of violence against women and this fight has been going for many years. In 2013, as the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women focused on fighting violence against women, Zonta supported the initiative with ‘Zonta Says NO’. Since June last year, the Zonta International Foundation has raised more than $650,000 to invest in international projects that focus on preventing violence against women.
Zonta clubs across the world have organized events as part of Zonta Says NO, included discussions on violence against women screenings of topical films such as The Cutting (Female Genital Mutilation), debates, walks where the distance was determined by the number of women dying in their community through violence, as well as displaying Zonta Says NO banners and hosting fundraising auctions. “It is the little ripples that create the big waves”, says Lynn McKenzie.
Heather Henare, Chief Executive Officer of Women’s Refuge New Zealand, spoke after Lynn. She highlighted some New Zealand domestic violence statistics. Heather mentioned that the Refuge receives an average of 82,000 calls to its Crisis/Support lines every year. This means a crisis or support call is responded to every nine minutes of every day. 20,000 women and children needed the help of Women’s Refuge in 2013. She acknowledged Susan Cochrane for her courage in declining name suppression, preferring to call it as it was, following the conviction of her former husband for rape and assault.
In 2012-13, refuges provided 76,000 safe beds for women and children who did not feel safe to sleep in their own homes – this was an average of 209 women and children each night. The average length of stay in a safe house in the same years was 24 days for a woman and 29 days for a child. This was an increase from the previous year. 74,785 children and young people aged under 17 were present at domestic violence situations attended by police. Heather spoke of the importance of groups such as Zonta who have influences in the United Nations to help bring about awareness and change to such atrocities.
The Mayor of Wellington, Celia Wade-Brown spoke and formally opened the Rally. “There are lots of good initiatives happening in our City of Wellington, of which we are proud,” she said. “We applaud the work of the groups who address the complex safety issues in Wellington. Wellington City first gained World Health Organisation (WHO) Safe Community status in 2006,” she said. “In February 2012, they were re-accredited as a WHO Safe Community. Still there are ongoing issues to be addressed. Women must feel confident to walk the city and measures such as ensuring back lanes and dark streets around our city are well lit, will ensure our women do not feel vulnerable or threatened. We as your City Council will continue to address these issues”.
Celia spoke of her threatening experience as a young person and how she was able to avoid a potential rape situation. She went on to conclude that “rape is not the fault of women or girls”. The march commenced from the Civic Square, across the bridge to the waterfront, mingling with the busy outdoor market customers until reaching its final destination Waitangi Park.
The Zonta Club of Fredericksburg, Texas, USA kicked off the “16 Days of Activism” at 7:30 PM, Monday, 25 November, by hosting a seminar on “Women’s Self-Defense, featuring Vickie Arnold.
The public was invited to attend at no charge. The seminar was held at the Golden Hub Community Centerin Fredericksburg, TX.
The Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post, a weekly Hill Country newspaper, published an article 13 November about “Zonta Says No” and the Zonta International campaign to eliminate and prevent violence against women and girls, and the “16 Days of Activism.” The article contained an invitation to the public to attend the free “Women’s Self-Defense” seminar. Then, it ran an ad 20 November using the “Join the Campaign to End Violence Against Women” graphics, again inviting the public to attend the free seminar.
Club Chairman, Ginger Mitchell, designed a flyer on orange card stock using the “Zonta Says No” graphics and an invitation to the free seminar which she distributed to various businesses and organizations inviting the public to the free seminar.
Additionally, the members of the Z Club of Fredericksburg High School are collecting women’s and girls’ shoes which they will paint orange and display on the high school campus to make high school students aware of the campaign to eliminate and prevent violence against women and girls. It has also embraced the “Voices Against Violence” program and will be making announcements over the school PA system citing statistics about violence against women and girls worldwide as well as in our local area. One of their projects in that regard is researching information from local authorities and organizations about the frequency and severity of incidents of violence involving women and girls.
Join us in saying NO 