Half of today’s migrants are women. Zonta is partnering with UN Women to address human trafficking and foreign labor migration of women and girls in Nepal. Join us in saying no to violence against women during the 16 Days of Activism.
Click here for more information on our project in Nepal.
The Zonta Club of The New Territories in Hong Kong kicked off the 16 Days of Activism campaign by performing a song at its 35th Anniversary Charity Dinner.
Members waved orange Zonta Says NO advocacy cards during the performance in front of more than 400 guests and over 20 perspective Zonta club members.
The club also showcased their 35 years of service and advocacy with a video and photo wall. Service partners of the club joined as well.
The Zonta Club of Damme joined with many Zonta clubs around the world to bring orange to a local statue orange. The club, along with the Mayor, draped the statue of Jacob Van Maerlant on the main square in Damme, Belgium.
This was to raise awareness of the start of the 16 Days of Activism and Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign. Several other public and private places were also decorated orange.
While Zonta Damme decorated the statue on the main square in an orange cape, they also asked passersby to dress in orange and speak out against violence. The reactions were posted on the Zonta Club of Damme website.
The Toronto skyline is shining orange, thanks to the Zonta e-Club of Canada 1.
On 25 November, the iconic CN Tower and 3D Toronto sign were lit orange. The Zonta e-Club of Canada 1 specifically requested the 3D Toronto sign be lit during the 16 Days of Activism campaign.
Zontians from the Zonta e-Club of Canada1 met at the “T” in Nathan Phillips Square for a glow-stick vigil.
That same night, Zontians from nearby clubs met at Niagara Falls, Ontario where the fall waters were also bathed in the signature orange color.
Club members said it was exciting to see the national monuments and landmarks lit up in orange as a clear sign of hope and support to put an end to violence against women and girls.
The Zonta Club of Burbank Area successfully collaborated with City of Burbank leaders to add their voice to the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women and 16 Days of Activism campaign by lighting City Hall orange during the sixteen days.
Mayor Will Rogers joined Zonta club members, Z-club members and other community supporters in memorializing the campaign.
The Los Angeles Times covered the story.
Intimate partner violence is one of the most common forms of violence against women. More than one-third of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence.
On Saturday, 25 November, the Zonta Club of Portland, USA, in District 8, turned the Morrison Bridge orange to raise awareness of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the start of the 16 Days of Activism.
On Saturday, 25 November, the city of Rotterdam in The Netherlands colored the Erasmus bridge orange.
In the presence of Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb and Minister Sigrid Kaag, the Zonta Club of Rotterdam in District 29—together with UN Women NL—asked for awareness to stop violence against women in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, and internationally.
Earlier in the afternoon, club members colored the city with yellow roses, as they handed out 500 roses in the main shopping area. They talked to many women, girls and men, and got great support for their action to spread the message to stop violence.
During the 16 Days of Activism Campaign, the Golden Z Club of UAFS (University of Arkansas Fort Smith) joined to place a display prominently on the campus to raise awareness of the campaign and to Say NO to Violence Against Women.
The Golden Z Club of UAFS is sponsored by the Zonta Club of Fort Smith, USA, in District 10.
The Zonta Club of Bendigo Inc., Australia, in District 23, worked with the City Council, Victoria police and other organizations to organize a community response to White Ribbon Day to commence the 16 Days of Activism.
On Friday, 24 November and Saturday, 25 November, club members attended local matches where the Associations had agreed to get players to recited the oath, “I will stand up, speak out and act to prevent men’s violence against women,” prior to the game.
According to Bendigo Advertiser, “Two of the games will also feature a presentation from Bendigo Police’s family violence advisor Sergeant Margaret Singe – Kangaroo Flat v Eaglehawk at the QEO and United v Sedgwick at Ewing Park.”
Club members attended the “Bendigo Walks Against Violence” event on Monday, 27 November, and sold white ribbons beforehand.
Before the walk, a crowd of about 500 people listened to Taran Chawla’s account of his sister Nikita’s murder by her husband and the impact of domestic violence on their family. Click here to read Chawla’s editorial in the Bendigo Advertiser.
Following the speaker, the crowd assembled behind their banners for a group photo, then walked through town to the civic gardens for a lunchtime BBQ. A notable feature in the Bendigo gardens was a bed featuring white petunias planted in the classic “white ribbon” pattern.
Join us in saying NO 