The Zonta Club of Cotonou, Benin, participated in the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign with three activities.

In partnership with a local nongovernmental organization that helps abused girls, the club walked in a march that ended in the biggest market of West Africa, Dantokpa Market, where the club held a sensitization event.

The club also turned Cotonou orange, dressing taxi motorcyclists in orange. They arrived in a convoy at the Place Lénine, where the club hosted a public debate on violence against women. The event was co-sponsored with Soroptimist.

For the third activity, the Zonta Club of Cotonou joined Soroptomist in organizing a conference to assess Benin’s progress in fighting gender-based violence and assessing how effective the law is in punishing violence perpetrators. Attendees included representatives of the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Supreme Court and UNFPA, judges, the U.S. ambassador in Benin, the director of Peace Corps, and a local civil society representative.

Throughout the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign, club had the opportunity to be visible in its community and convey the message and values of Zonta, particularly its commitment to empower women, fight for women’s rights and fight against violence against women, which prohibits them from living in dignity and having a flourishing life.