The Zonta Club of Cincinnati recently published a press release announcing their actions during the 16 Days of Activism. Read an excerpt below:

The Zonta Club of Cincinnati supports Zonta International’s Zonta Says NO to violence
against women campaign by participating in the 1 October 26th Annual Candlelight Vigil honoring victims of domestic violence; distributing Zonta Says NO orange bracelets/ribbons and holding workshops about human trafficking and violence against women at their recent district conference; creating quilt squares to be incorporated into a large district-wide Zonta Says NO quilt; and hosting a keynote meeting speaker contrasting
violence against women since Zonta’s founding in 1919 with today’s statistics.

Zonta International is promoting their Zonta Says NO campaign and the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence – an international campaign originating from the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute sponsored by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership in 1991 – through December 2013. Nearly 30,000 Zonta members in 1,200 clubs in 65 countries are participating in those efforts in their local communities in support of Zonta Says NO 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 around the world have organized more than 40 events as part of Zonta Says NO, panel discussions on violence against women and screenings of topical films, to displaying Zonta Says NO banners and hosting charity events to raise awareness.

Zonta Club of Cincinnati President Terri Purtee-Stein said, “Gender-based violence knows no income, societal, or racial boundaries. Unfortunately it is all too common – one in three girls is far too many incidents with long-lasting and far-reaching effects on personal lives and on society. We hope the world and local community will join in Zonta’s efforts to eradicate this horrific crime.”

The Zonta Club of Cincinnati partners with local organizations to benefit ongoing educational and service programs supporting their Ann Rasche Scholarship Fund, Visiting Nurse Association, Bethany House Women’s Shelter, North Fairmount Community Center, Mary Magdalen House, the Women’s Connection, Tender Mercies,
and Families Forward. For more information about the Zonta Club of Cincinnati, visit http://www.zonta-cinti.org.