The most pervasive and least recognized human rights violation worldwide, gender-based violence affects women and girls of every race, class, culture, ethnicity, age and country. Zonta International strives to promote and protect the human rights of all women and girls and reduce the incidences of violence against them. Through funding from the Zonta International Foundation, the Zonta International Strategies to End Violence Against Women (ZISVAW) Program has provided more than US$5.5 million to support projects to prevent and end violence against women and girls in 42 countries.

During the 2016-2018 Biennium, two projects are being supported by the ZISVAW Fund:

• Respecting the Rights and Responding to the Needs of Adolescent Girls in Niger
• The Future We Want: Creating Sustainable Foundations for Addressing Human Trafficking and Unsafe Migration of Women and Girls in Nepal

Learn how Zonta International and UNFPA are working to delay early marriage in Niger by watching the above video. And, learn more about how we are teaming up with UN Women in Nepal by visiting our Foundation page: http://foundation.zonta.org/Nepal.

The Zonta Club of Basel, Switzerland, started their Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women display 25 November together with two other NGOs in the city of Basel. They focused on the theme of stereotypes and how they can contribute to violence. The club asked people about their roles and what happens when expectations are not met.

The club also distributed coasters to passersby and restaurants with cartoons showing stereotypes with reversed genders. People appreciated the engagement and the importance of raising the awareness of violence against women.

More information can be found on the Zonta Club of Basel’s website.

The Zonta Club of Iloilo City II, together with the Iloilo City Police Office Region 6, unveiled the Women’s Desk landmark along General Luna St., Iloilo City on 29 November. This will make the Women’s Desk visible to the public to which it serves, especially abused women and girls.

Zonta Club of Hong Kong II hosted a screening of the documentary “She Objects” in Hong Kong in support of the 16 Days of Activism.  The film was commissioned by the Women’s Foundation in partnership with Women Helping Women and is the first documentary in Hong Kong to explore how traditional and new forms of media create and exacerbate gender stereotypes in the society. It challenges viewers to think critically about and resist the biased and often dehumanizing portrayal of women in media. Directed by young talent Nicola Fan, the documentary explores the impact of such phenomenon in Hong Kong, in particular the impact to female ambition. The movie has been recently featured in the Hong Kong Sundance Film Festival as well.
The event was well attended by about 180 people from different organizations and backgrounds including corporate representatives, social workers, teachers, school principals, Zontians, and Z and Golden Z members. Each attendee was given a “Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women” sports band and was encouraged to wear it during the month to raise awareness of the topic. The club also invited specialist speakers at the end of screening to moderate a session of view sharing with the audience. This was a great opportunity to interact with the makers of the documentary, while also reflect on how we, as consumers and content creators in the digital world, can make a difference in removing gender biases in the society.

The Zonta Club of Ponce, Puerto Rico, has been very active in its Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign.

The club has impacted neighbors, businesses and nearby communities with orange bows and Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women signs placed throughout the city.

The Ponce City Hall allowed the club to to make a statement to the public upon entering the city with literature, charts and signs outside of the historic fire house.

In addition, the Zonta Club of Ponce participated in a Christmas concert held at the College of Engineering.

The Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the Sustainable Development Goals, was adopted at the United Nations Summit in 2015. Though we agree with and support all of the goals, Zonta International is a strong proponent for Goal No. 5, Achieve gender equality and empower all women girls. Gender equality is a prerequisite for the other goals to be achieved.

Learn more about the Sustainable Development Goals at http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/.

The Zonta Club of Marietta, USA, participated in its town’s Christmas parade on 26 November in support of the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign.

In addition to support from many attendees, club members handed out 500 key chains to women along the parade route. One end had a sharp-sounding whistle with a light on the other end, and “Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women” was stamped on one side. Slipped into the loop was a business-sized card with the National Domestic Hotline number and contact information for the club.

See more photos from the parade below.

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Dressed in orange and carrying Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women signs and banners, members of the Zonta Club of Findlay, USA, walked in silence on Friday to raise awareness for the campaign and ending gender-based violence.

Click below to watch a video from The Courier.

The Zonta Club of Cotonou, Benin, held a sensitization activity with mototaxi men as part of the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign.

The rich, interactive debate included a representative from the Ministry of Labour & Social Affairs, representatives from donors and international organizations, a local government representative, and people from other service clubs such as Inner Wheel, Lions Club, Soroptomist and the civil society.

The event was a successful mobilization effort and and partnership of activists interested in fighting violence against women.

The Zonta Club of Glens Falls efforts for the 16 Days of Activism included activities to raise awareness of violence against women in their community and to provide information about resources available for victims of abuse. On 3 December, members of the club gathered in City Park in downtown Glens Falls in an informational rally. The location was close to the local Glens Falls Transit bus stop where three city busses displayed the Zonta Says No to Violence Against Women message. The nearby Civic Center marquee displayed the same Zonta Says No logo. Club members asked local businesses to show support of the 16 Days of Activism by displaying placards and posters in their windows facing the main streets in the core of downtown Glens Falls.

With the help of many local businesses including Nemer Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge and Glens Falls National Bank, the Zonta Club of Glens Falls successfully “painted the town orange” for the 16 Days of Activism.