There are 42 Zonta clubs in France, which belong to the three different districts :27, 29, 30. The campaign “Zonta says NO” retained the attention of all French Zonta clubs, and each club prepared demonstrations to highlight the work of the clubs in the fight against violence against women.

To have a better visibility of Zonta at their country’s level, each of the French clubs have decided to adopt the same communication support, including the same bill in French language explanatory leaflets of the Zonta Says NO campaign, the orange ribbon and the orange band.

Local and regional media have been contacted by clubs as well as national media  has been informed by the french area advocacy representatives of the three districts.

Club member have noticed that according the courts, the perpetrators of martial violence do not receive sentences of equal importance. So the Zonta clubs have decided to create an online petition so that justice is fair on the french territory.

This petition will be presented at the end of activism period to the minister of women’s rights and to the minister of justice in the french government

affiche zonta says no définitive 

Zonta PETITION CHANGE MPP

The Zonta Clubs of Braunschweig and Salzgitter, Lower Saxony, Germany have planned a political play “Verkaufter Engel” of the theater odos in support of Zonta Says No.

The spectacle will raise awareness of human trafficking of women and girls into the commercial sex industry (i.e. prostitution or other forms of sexual exploitation). A benefit event in cooperation with SOLWODI (Solidarity with women in Distress) is a non-denominational and non-partisan charity organisation that helps women in distress.

Please visit: http://www.unser38.de/braunschweig-innenstadt/kulturelles/theaterstueck-ueber-frauen-in-den-faengen-von-menschenhaendlern-am-2511-im-roten-saal-d5379.html for more information.

As part of District 22’s strategy to promote the ‘Zonta says NO’ campaign, Lieutenant Governor-elect, Amena Reza, created a dedicated District 22 campaign site where clubs throughout the District could share information and photographs, and where the public could register and purchase orange T-shirts for the 9 November awareness walk in Brisbane which attracted more than 300 participants.

See: http://atomic-temporary-42828137.wpcomstaging.com.au/

The Governor of Queensland (Australia), Her Excellency Ms Penelope Wensley AC, has lent her support to the ‘Zonta says NO’ campaign and was photographed at Government House with Member of the Australian Parliament and Zontian, Ms Jane Prentice, Brisbane City Council councillor, Ms Vicki Ryan, and District 22 Lieutenant Governor-elect and organiser of Brisbane’s highly successful ‘Zonta says NO’ walk, Amena Reza, from the Zonta Club of Brisbane Metro Breakfast.

The Australian Government announced on 19 November that it will provide $1 million to the White Ribbon campaign to help reduce violence against women, particularly in culturally and linguistically diverse communities. For the past decade White Ribbon Day, which coincides with the UN’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (25 November) has been working to stop violence through education, preventative programs, partnerships and creative campaigns.

Many Zonta clubs work collaboratively with the White Ribbon campaign, recognizing that one in three Australian women over the age of 15 has reported experiencing physical or sexual violence at some point in their lives. The $1 million funding will expand the activities of the White Ribbon campaign and build on the Government’s plans to ensure implementation of the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and Children 2010-2022.

On Sunday, 24 November 2013 the Zonta Club of Tübingen will join an open talk with local politicians and social workers about forced prostitution because of poorness.

This is an activity in occasion of the movie festival WOMEN’S Worlds in Tübingen organized by TERRE Des Femmes, which the Zonta Club Tübingen is joining. The club will have their own stand to inform the public about the ZONTA says No action and local activities as well as activities worldwide.

The Zonta Club of Maroochy participated in the Zonta Says NO campaign and is proud to support organizations that work to help combat and bring awareness to domestic violence on the Sunshine Coast. The Club provides financial assistance to women’s refuges and each year members donate goods for hampers and crisis care packs to be distributed to women and children through Nambour Lions Emergency Accommodation Centre, SunnyKids and Sonshine Sanctuary.

The hampers, which included Christmas gifts, Christmas treats and food for those women and families in crisis care over Christmas, were presented to representatives at a dinner on 20 November. The presentations were also covered in the local press.

On 8 December, the Zonta Club of Medford, MA, USA is offering an introductory  “Rape Aggression Defense” (RAD) class for women in the local community as part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence.

Zonta Club of Medford member, Julie Kaufman, took a RAD course to become certified, and, in turn is offering this class to women in her local community to empower them through education.

The class will teach components of the RAD Systems (no physical exercises) based on risk strategies for personal safety including: risk avoidance, risk reduction, risk awareness and risk recognition. The RAD Systems objective is to develop and enhance the options of self-defense, so they may become viable considerations to the woman attacked. They challenge society to evolve into an existence where violence is not acceptable in daily life.

To view the invitation, Click here.

Zonta Club of Cleveland participated in the Zonta Says No campaign to end violence against women with a community forum on October 9, 2013. Judge Ronald Adrine of the Cleveland Municipal Court and Sondra Miller, the President and CEO of the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center were the keynote speakers.

Judge Adrine has been a long time advocate for the prevention of domestic violence. He is the administrative and presiding judge of the Cleveland Municipal Court. Judge Adrine co-authored the Ohio Domestic Violence Law and is the Co-Chairman of the Advisory Board of the National Judicial Institute on Domestic Violence.

Since 1974, The Cleveland Rape Crisis Center has been dedicated to providing comprehensive 24-hour services to survivors of sexual violence and sex trafficking. Onsite counseling and advocacy services address the healing needs of children, teens and adults. Hospital and legal advocates provide community based services in crisis services to assist survivors in each stage of recovery.

CEO Sondra Miller addressed both the incidences of rape in the community and that of family violence. She recalled a case of an 86 survivor who indicated child sexual abuse beginning at age 5 years. She cited a study in which it is estimated that 1-in-4 women may have experienced some form of violence in their lives. While rape is not predicated upon family violence, as it is a crime of power and domination, Ms. Miller reported some survivors who also share life stories of abuse by family or partners. She cited the return to abuser rate of eight times prior to leaving permanently or through fatalities.

Judge Adrine advocates for laws to protect the individual from violence. He reported statutes that prior to 1978 allowed men to beat women as long as the stick was not thicker than a thumb. Legal advocacy through the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, Women Together battered Women Shelter, women’s organizations, medical personnel, judges and attorneys advocated for legislative changes resulting in the change in laws that Judge Adrine has been a part of crafting. Judge Adrine is developing the Family Justice Center in Cleveland, Ohio. He requested a study on access to services for a survivor of violence. The results revealed an average of 20 appointments in various locations were necessary for the individual to start the recovery process. The Family Justice Center will provide each needed service in one location. The attendees enjoyed the presentation and raised questions during the dialogue period of the program.

The Zonta Club of Converse County in Douglas, WY, USA shared this photo of the Converse County Sheriff’s Department showing their support for the Zonta Says NO Campaign. “Real men don’t hurt women!”

“Human Trafficking in Michigan”

On 19 November, the local chapters of the American Association of University Women, the League of Women Voters and the Zonta Club of Midland are hosting a session on “Human Trafficking in Michigan” at Northwood University in Midland, MI, USA.  Michigan State Senator Judy Emmons will speak at this public forum about this huge global criminal enterprise and the landmark 19-bill package recently announced in Michigan to combat this crime and support victims.  Members will display a Zonta Says NO banner, and will wear the Zonta Says NO orange.   

Benefit to help survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault at local shelter

On 22 November, members of the Zonta Club of Midland will be attending “Lunafest” hosted by Midland Center for the Arts and benefiting Sheltherhouse, a local non-profit organization committed to providing safety, shelter, advocacy and counseling to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Members will be wearing orange and Zonta Says NO wristbands.

33^rd Annual “Homewalk”

On 7 and 8 December, the Zonta Club of Midland will be hosting their 33rd annual “Homewalk”, the clubs largest fundraiser.  Close to 1,000 members of the community participate in this two day walk to view homes decorated for the holidays.  A number of local companies and individuals are also financial sponsors of the event. Proceeds benefit the Zonta Club of Midland scholarship fund, local service projects and the Zonta International Foundation. Members will wear the Zonta Says NO wristbands.