For the 16 Days of Activism, the Zonta Club of Oswego, New York, USA, is collecting donations to the Oswego County Opportunities’ Services to Aid Families program that operates the local domestic violence shelter and provides services to survivors of gender-based violence.

From oswegocountytoday.com:

As part of Zonta International’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, a campaign that aims to inspire action and end violence against women and girls around the world, the Zonta Club of Oswego will be collecting donations for Oswego County Opportunities’ Services to Aid Families program that operates the local domestic violence shelter and provides services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and other types of  abuse.

“Violence against women is not a new phenomenon, neither are its consequences to women’s physical, mental and reproductive health,” says Zonta International President Maria Jose Landeira Oestergaard. “What is new is the growing recognition that acts of violence against women are not isolated events, but rather form a pattern of behavior that violates the rights of women and girls, limits their participate on in society and damages their health and well-being.”

At the local level, Zonta clubs across the world are organizing activities and events as part of the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign, which focuses on the service and advocacy actions of Zonta clubs to prevent and end violence against women and girls in their local communities.

For the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, which runs from Nov. 25 to Dec. 10, the Zonta Club of Oswego will be collecting items for SAF.

Tammy Thompson, president of the Zonta Club of Oswego said, “Our local club has had a long relationship with the SAF Program and the domestic violence shelter, supporting them throughout the years with whatever they may need. Last year the shelter needed to replace all of their cribs and Zonta members donated funds to purchase four new cribs for the house. Several years ago we purchased a swing set.  This year we are focusing on collecting personal care items such as toiletries, household items, games and DVDs and winter clothes for women and children.“

Items can be dropped off at OCO’s Oswego office in Midtown Plaza. Pick-up is also available by contacting Zonta member Inga Back at ingaback@yahoo.com.

Zonta is also encouraging local business and groups to take a photo of themselves wearing orange, the official color of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, and post it to the Zonta Club of Oswego’s Facebook page.

“Solidarity in the face of this epidemic will help us raise awareness and lend support to those who have experienced intimate partner violence,” Thompson said.

People can also check out Zonta’s facebook page during the 16 days for daily posts related to their campaign or visit Zonta International’s website at http://www.zontasaysno.com.

The Zonta Club of Oswego is part of Zonta International, a global organization working to empower women worldwide through service and advocacy.

With more than 30,000 members belonging to nearly 1,200 clubs in 67 countries, Zontians all over the world volunteer their time, talent and support to local and international service projects and educational programs.

Sentinel-Review

The Zonta Club of Woodstock, Ontario, Canada, kicked off the 16 Days of Activism by lighting up trees orange and purple in front of the Police Service headquarters on Wednesday, 25 November.

From woodstocksentinelreview.com:

Purple and orange lights will light up trees in front of the Woodstock Police Service headquarters on Dundas Street this Wednesday, November 25.

The Zonta Says No launch, held at the police station between 5:30 and 6 p.m., is designed to be “subtle but effective” way of making the community aware of violence against women.

The United Nations Secretary-General’s Campaign UNITE to End Violence against women has proclaimed the 25th of each month as Orange Day, a day to raise awareness and take action against violence against women and girls.

“I would say this is a significant way to raise awareness about violence against women and women’s issues in our community,” said Sheena Poole, president of the Zonta Club of Woodstock.

The Zonta Says No campaign, in partnership with the Domestic Assault Review Team, is designed to highlight a number of national and internationally recognized days of remembrance during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence.

The orange lights are representative of the United Nations UNITE Orange Day Campaign and the purple lights are part of the Shine the Light on Woman Abuse, a public awareness campaign on the London Women’s Centre.

Over the next 16 days Zonta will be partnering with the many agencies within DART and community organizations in Oxford County to bring attention to the different way that gender violence impacts lives.

“We are extremely proud to be in partnership with leading experts and responders to acts of violence in our community for the third Zonta Says No campaign,” Poole said. “Zonta is about empowering women both globally and locally and we want to campaign to send the message of ‘No to Violence’ to all women and girls within Oxford County.”

The Zonta Clubs of Dunedin-Otago and Metropolitan Dunedin , New Zealand, joined together to support the Zonta Says NO to Violence against Women campaign on Saturday, 28 November. Zontians spread the Zonta Says NO to Violence against Women message at Anzac Square in Dunedin while distributing white ribbons and orange balloons and collecting donations for the Sophie Elliott Foundation, an organization that “aims to cause a profound shift in New Zealand’s attitude towards relationship violence.”

http://www.targatocn.it

As part of the program organized by the city of Saluzzo and the Council for Equal Opportunities “Fight or build hope,” the Zonta Club of Saluzzo, Italy, is spreading the Zonta Says NO to Violence against Women message with loaves of bread. The message, “La violenza non è pane quotidiano” (Violence is not daily bread), appeared on 1,500 bags of bread sold throughout the city on Saturday, 28 November. The initiative, which supports the organization Mai + Sole, is made possible with the contribution of two bread shops.

For an article by TargatoCN, click here.

The Zonta Clubs of Townsville Inc and Townsville Metro Inc., Australia, joined with the North Queensland Women’s Legal Service to tackle domestic violence at a Townsville Fire game. Wear Zonta Says NO to Violence against Women shirts, the activists passed out free domestic violence hotline information to the crowd at the Women’s National Basketball League game.

The four Zonta clubs in Christchurch, New Zealand, collaborated together and combined their members to hold a large march around their city. Participants carried orange silhouettes and a Zonta Says NO banner to raise awareness of the campaign.

The Zonta Club of Alessandria, Italy, and Golden Z Club Alessandria Cittadella worked together to have a walk and a concert to spread the word of Zonta Says NO. The walk, called “he on the heels,” is an initiative to have participants march in heels; including men. To advocate that violence against women is not a matter of gender, students, caterers, community members, and even mayors put on high heels to walk alongside Zontians and Golden Z Club Members.

Following the walk was a gospel concert from a group from Nigeria called Dynamite. The group is made of young people who have left violent pasts and today sing of the joys and wonders of the world.

The Zonta Club of Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, joined the Napier Santa Parade to spread the message of the Zonta Says NO to Violence against Women campaign. The Club stood out in orange as they interacted with the crowd on the parade route. Their mayor also showed his support and posed with the Club for a photo.

The Zonta Clubs of District 16 organized turning the Christchurch Airport terminal and tower in New Zealand orange for the Zonta Says NO to Violence against Women campaign. The terminal and tower will remain orange throughout the weekend for the “Orange March” event.

The Zonta Club of Verden, Germany, gathered in an open, pedestrian area to engage passersby in the Zonta Says NO to Violence against Women campaign before heading to the cinema for their charity event featuring the film “Das Mädchen Hirut”. The proceeds of their event will go to their local women’s shelter as well as to their women’s counseling office. Next week, the club will appear at their Christmas market with their traditional cookie sale.