Leading up to this year’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the Zonta Club of Bunbury, Australia, invited local schools to participate in its ‘Choose Respect, Expect Respect’ poster competition as a strategy to focus on respect.

“By talking about respect and exploring what respect looks like, sounds like and feels like through art, we believe that what is and is not acceptable will reinforce positive behavior and contribute to a positive change for the future,” said Club President Kerry Kerr.

Building on the club’s program, Kerry also said that “the Zonta Club of Bunbury is proud to support the Australian Government’s Stop it at the Start campaign and the WA Government’s Path to safety: Western Australia’s strategy to reduce family and domestic violence 2020-2030 to help create a future free from violence for women and children.”

The club received 100 competition entries, and 16 finalists from local schools were invited to attend a presentation afternoon with their parents on the 3 November. Deputy Mayor Tresslyn Smith congratulated the students and presented them with their awards.

The event was also featured in a double-page coverage in a local newspaper, which gave greater visibility to the project.