From the Philippine Information Agency:

LAOAG CITY, (PIA) – An international women’s group here has gathered a thousand signatures in support of the global campaign to end violence against women and children.

Ilocos Norte’s Zonta initiated the signature drive to raise awareness and increase action to end violence against women and girls through services and advocacy.

The group’s campaign streamers bore the message: “A thousand and more signatures; Zonta says no.”

Marsha Leoncia Aoigan said the campaign began in November 2012 focusing on the service and advocacy actions of Zonta clubs and districts worldwide to prevent and end violence against women and children in local communities.

She said the drive is carried out through the Zonta International Strategies to End Violence Against Women (ZISVAW) program in partnership with the United Nations and its agencies.

The Zonta Club of Ilocos Norte (ZCIN) was established on May 9, 1978.

At present, 49 members work hand in hand with the local governments and other Non – Government Organizations (NGOs) to advance the status of women in Ilocos Norte.

It has chapters in Baguio City, San Fernando City of La Union, Tuguegarao Foundation, Aparri and Central Tuguegarao and in Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Hongkong.

In her visit in the province recently, Zonta International District 17 Governor Winnie Teoh based in Hongkong called on women’s groups in the country to act now to prevent violence against women.

She said the prevalence of incidents against Filipino women is alarming.

Teoh compared the 2004 survey report collected by the Philippine Commission on Women showing 6,271 cases of violence against women as against the 2012 report with 15,969 cases of crime against women.

“Prevention is better than cure. Thus, I urge our group, concerned local NGOs and the media to help  us publicize a better awareness of this issue in the community, so as to achieve better harmony in our society,” she said in a press briefing.

She also called the conduct of more seminars and symposium in the local level focusing on the discussion on the rights of women and children. (MCA/FGL PIA- 1- Ilocos Norte)