Author: Zonta International

In the news: Zonta Club of Greater Dhaka creates awareness of child marriage with rally and other planned events

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Zonta International members pose for a photograph with the teachers and students of Dhaka Gaoyair High School in Dhakkhinkhan at a programme titled ‘End violence against women and girls now’ on Tuesday. 

The Zonta Club of Greater Dhaka, Bangladesh, kicked off its Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign on Sunday with a rally titled “Orange the World” at Baridhara Park in Dhaka.

Zonta Club of Greater Dhaka President Tootli Rahman and club members gathered at the park in orange dresses. They lit lamps for enlightenment and held pens as a symbol of education in their hands. They later paraded through the park in a procession.

Rahman said the club is working to end child marriage.

“We’ve already saved over 1,000 girls from falling victims to child marriage in Kurigram,” she told the newspaper New Age.

Rahman also said the club will be holding events throughout the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence to create awareness of the negative impacts of child marriage.

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Zonta Club of Luebeck advocating to end violence against women with large bus ad, billboards and signs

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From October through December, the Zonta Club of Luebeck, Germany, is advertising Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women on a city bus.

With the eye-catching bus, the club is showing that they say no to violence in Lübeck. The bus is financed by sponsors and Lübeck Zontians.

In addition, the club is advertising on several large billboards and banner throughout Lübeck, a historic city in the north of Germany with about 220,000 inhabitants and many tourists.

Zonta Club of Luebeck

Zonta Club of Auckland Inc lights up bridge orange, learns about ending child marriage and violence against women

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On 24 November, the Auckland Harbor Bridge was lit up orange to recognize the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the Zonta Club of Auckland Inc’s Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign.

Auckland Harbour Bridge

To mark the occasion, the club held a “Light the Bridge Orange” dinner at the New Zealand Yacht Squadron. Special attendees included Zonta International Honorary Members Dame Silvia Cartwright and Dr. Marilyn Waring.

Zonta Club of Auckland Inc

Past District 16 Governor Maureen Heine presented, linking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, ending child marriage and Zonta International’s service project to end child marriage.

She concluded her presentation by discussing New Zealand legislation enacted this year to prevent forced marriages of mostly girls, aged 16 and 17, who are considered minors by the state. The law now requires 16- and 17-year-olds who want to marry or enter into a civil union or de facto relationship to obtain the consent of a family court judge.

Other speakers included Dr. Pani Farvid, a senior lecturer at Auckland University of Technology, and Jan Logie, a member of the New Zealand House of Representatives.

The evening enabled the Zonta Club of Auckland Inc to draw attention to the issue of child marriage and look at ways to address violence against women in New Zealand.   

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Day 4

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04_MYTHS about CHILD MARRIAGE - rare (1)

FACT: Child marriage is common and takes place across the globe, even in developed countries. It is not rare and everyone is affected when 1 in three girls in the developing world is married by age 18.

The city of Meaux France says ‘NO’ to violence against women

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The city of Meaux, France supported the Zonta Club of Meaux et Region with their campaign to say “No” to violence against women.

Within the city, all the big monuments were in orange. A photo exhibition in the streets showed why passersby need to say ‘NO’ to violence against women and many shops put up posters in their windows.

A conference was held where a speaker from the club spoke on the subject of ending child marriage.Zonta Club Meaux et Region_SYS

Zonta Club of Saint Sofia recognizes 16 Days campaign and plans for centennial

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St Sofia_btvnovinite.bg.jpgPhoto: btvnovinite.bg

The Zonta Club of Saint Sofia in Bulgaria, District 30, together with the Zonta clubs in another 62 countries on 5 continents, began their 6th year of recognizing the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign.

As of 25 November, the International Day of elimination of all forms of violence, our 16-day march of activism has started to proclaim help to the victims of violence.

In Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, this year, two emblematic buildings have been lit orange, the color of the campaign. The two buildings are the National Palace of Culture and the Sofia Opera and Ballet House.

Club members are grateful for those in the community who have already expressed support toward the campaign. This includes people in organizations such as the Sofia Taxi Company Radio SV Taxi, Sofia Electrotransport and Sofia Opera and Ballet.

This coming year, on the eve of Zonta International’s 100th anniversary, members from the Zonta Club of Saint Sofia will call to action those who witness or recognize violence or the victims of violence to contact the national hotline (0800 1 8676). Members hope this will help to protect and support victims.

Zonta Club of South Puget Sound plans multiple events for 16 Days

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ZC of South Puget SoundThe Zonta Club of South Puget Sound, District 8, is recognizing the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence by featuring speakers, workshops, and events sponsored by local, state and national organizations that address gender-based violence in the workplace.

These events are designed to prevent violence, to ensure justice for victims, and to find ways to lift women up and to level the playing field both socially and economically. At noon on weekdays, speakers will address the psychological and physical impacts of violence and the lack of resources available.

The Zonta Club of South Puget Sound is a hands-on club that provides service to local nonprofits and supports global projects that promote the education, health, and well-being of women and girls.

Locally, the following organizations are participating in upcoming activities: Human Rights Commission, National Organization of Women, Pierce County AIDS Foundation, Safeplace, Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Utilities & Transportation Commission, Washington Human Trafficking Coalition, Zonta Club of South Puget Sound, Zonta Club of Victoria.  

Additionally, legislators and elected officials will be participating, including Congressman Denny Heck and State Representatives Beth Doglio, 22nd District, Laurie Dolan, 22nd District and Laurie Jenkins, 27th District.

Day 3

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03_ZISVAW Stats-2.5 million girls_GM.pngZonta has the potential to reach 2.5 million girls in 12 countries through the Ending Child Marriage project with UNICEF, UNICEFUSA and UNFPA.

To read more about the project, visit http://foundation.zonta.org/EndingChildMarriage.

Zonta Club of Charlevoix Area takes donations from community members to build 16 Days display

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Zonta Club of Charlevoix AreaThe Zonta Club of Charlevoix Area members from District 15 are raising awareness about the issue of domestic violence with their Zonta Shoe Tree.

The Shoe Tree, currently on display in a prominent Charlevoix, Michigan location through 10 December, features 183 pair of shoes. Each pair represents one of the 183 victims of domestic violence or assault in the Charlevoix community in 2017.

The Zonta Shoe Tree serves as a public reminder that while each of the 183 victims put their shoes on and walk through their day just like everyone else, they live with violence.

Residents generously donated 183 pair of shoes and Charlevoix businesses and the local high school served as drop-off locations.

An area Girl Scout Troop joined Zonta members in painting the shoes orange, marched with members in the Holiday Parade and assisted in decorating the Shoe Tree.

By inviting the local community to donate shoes and help build the shoe tree, Zonta members and community members actively participated in an open discussion about the issue of domestic violence.

Zonta Club of Kathmandu launches social media campaign with local celebrities

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ZC of KathmanduMembers of the Zonta Club of Kathmandu, District 25, have started an awareness campaign on social media alongside local celebrities as part of the Zonta Says NO campaign.

The club has partnered with celebrities who have large numbers of social media followers and who will post their pledge to #EndChildMarriage online for their followers to see. Thirty-two celebrities have joined the club in their efforts and two have already scheduled posts on their social media accounts.

Members of the Zonta Club of Kathmandu hope to reach a diverse audience with this social media campaign.

Members created a Facebook profile frame with the pledge so anyone can use the frame and pledge that way and special stickers were also created. The #EndChildMarriage stickers are given to drivers to encourage them to take the pledge and advertise their commitment on their car window.