Zonta International members raise a flag to kick off its campaign against gender-based violence Sunday at Niagara Square. (John Hickey/Buffalo News)

Sunday marked the United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

At Niagara Square, the Zonta Club of Buffalo hosted a gathering to commemorate the occasion and launch its annual “16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence” leading to Human Rights Day.

The international organization, which was founded a stone’s throw away at the Statler Hotel in 1919, used the occasion to also mark its 100th anniversary next year by hosting a Centennial Flag. But the main focus was on the issue at hand.

“Advocacy is important, but it is not enough,” said Bonnie Clesse of Boston, N.Y., District 4 governor and member of Zonta Club of Hamburg-Orchard Park. “Action has to be taken to eliminate violence against women.”