Author: Zonta International

Zonta Club of Tuguegarao gives Hugz of Hope during the 16 Days of Activism

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On 27 November, as part of their 16 Days of Activism campaign, the Zonta Club of Tuguegarao, Philippines, shared teddy bears for HugZ of Hope, offering solace to survivors of Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) and kids admitted at the Cagayan Valley Medical Center and those under the care of Dr. Annie Bautista in St. Paul Hospital, Tuguegarao City.

Each HugZ of Hope Bear is a symbol of support, holding the warmth of a thousand embraces, a gesture of love to those on their journey of healing. As we placed these cuddly companions in gentle arms, we whispered messages of courage, resilience, and the promise of brighter days ahead.

The HugZ of Hope, spearheaded by Club President Olive Pascual, is an initiative that embodies the club’s commitment to standing with survivors, offering comfort amidst adversity and reminding them they are never alone.

Through soft embraces, the club aims to restore hope, inspire strength and ignite a spark of joy in the hearts of those affected by VAWC and suffering from illnesses.

The club is making each bear a tangible reminder that love and support encircle the receivers, a beacon guiding their path toward healing and empowerment.

Zonta Club of Geelong Inc leads city for the 16 Days of Activism

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For the past four years, the Zonta Club of Geelong Inc, Australia, has taken the lead in encouraging the city authority and other organizations to use the 16 Days as an opportunity to highlight the need to eliminate violence against women.

This year, the club kicked off the 16 Days with a gathering in a city park on 25 November with local rotary clubs, city councilors, a politician, members of local domestic violence service providers and the public. A sea of orange t-shirts arrived at the park to the sound of women’s anthems playing. A city councilor spoke about the increased awareness of the local government authority on the need to recognize this event as a major opportunity to promote the city’s work in this field. They also heard from a local domestic violence staff member about an art exhibition of work by victim-survivors.

Over the 16 days, there was a great deal of orange from yarn-bombing trees in the central business district, orange lighting on buildings at night, and many, many “orange ladies” at local libraries, hospitals and community centers.

This year, the campaign’s exposure, the club’s increased visibility and the involvement of many other organizations have risen significantly compared to previous years. Everywhere the club was present, they had a Zonta Says No to Violence Against Women logo displayed and promoted the goals and ideals of Zonta.

Zonta Club of Brewerton, Friends for Equality says NO to violence against women

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The Zonta Club of Brewerton, Friends for Equality, USA, is one of the now-forming clubs, and they were visible in their community in several ways during the 16 Days of Activism:

  • The club called on members and allies to wear orange during the 16 Days. 
  • They encouraged self-education on these topics: Healthy relationships, signs of abuse and the services available to victims in the area. To help, the club created a display at a suburban library with information about Zonta, books recommended for reading and local community resources.
  • The club invited guests to their November meeting at the same library with the club’s Zonta Says NO display. A woman from a local women’s shelter gave an interactive talk on domestic violence and the formation of gender roles and answered the groups’ many questions. All 20 attendees learned something new. During the evening, guests pledged to say NO to violence against women by writing their names on handprints, which were then adhered to a poster.  
  • The club mounted a social media campaign inviting members and allies to be digital activists.

Throughout all activities, people were encouraged to add their single voice to Zonta – a group united to eliminate gender violence. The local newspaper published a story on the club’s actions.

Zonta Club of Cincinnati and Contemporary Arts Center present community exhibition about “Wounded Healers”

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The Zonta Club of Cincinnati, USA, and the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) hosted a collaborative community exhibition, Wounded Healers: Transforming Pain to Wholeness and Health. This unprecedented exhibition featured drawings, prints, photographs and paintings that depict the personal and painful journey of physical, emotional and spiritual abuse leading to healing, hope and wholeness.

The month-long exhibition at the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, opened with a reception for the artists, their families, and guests on Thursday, 9 November. This inaugural exhibition included 21 art pieces from 15 diverse artists who responded to an open call hosted by the club and the Contemporary Arts Center.

“At the Contemporary Arts Center, we strive to engage with issues of our time,” says Shawnee Turner, Director of Interpretation. “Supporting the Zonta Club of Cincinnati on such a relevant matter that impacts so many lives in our community while seeking to make the world better through art—this is why we’re here.”

The dates of the exhibition were selected to coincide with the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women and 16 Days of Activism campaigns. To further promote the campaign, the club hosted a kickoff for the 16 Days of Activism and a panel discussion titled “The Journey Of Healing,” featuring a club member, an artist and a psychologist, who shared their experiences of abuse and their journey to find wholeness and health – all held in the exhibit space.

The artists were honored and appreciative of the opportunity to share their work. “I am blessed. I would have never believed I would be showing art at such a prestigious gallery,” artist Laurie Ann Altman shared.

Through this exhibit, the club hopes to empower artists from the Greater Cincinnati region to bring awareness to the lived experiences of those seeking a world where no one lives in fear of violence.

16 online posts for 16 days of activism against gender based violence

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The Zonta Club of Brooklyn, USA, submitted statistics for each day of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, beginning 25 November. The club shared these stats via email with all members and asked them to repost them on their social media. Additionally, they posted these submissions to their Facebook page. This action supports Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women Action.

The club ended the 16 Days of Activism with a post about women in Bangladesh by one of their members. These posts can be found on their Facebook page.

Zonta Club of Cleveland Observes 16 Days of Activism

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The Zonta Club of Cleveland, USA, was once again proud to participate actively in the 2023 Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women and 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaigns. The club kicked off the 16 Days with an educational program presented by the Collaborative to End Human Trafficking, an organization serving Northeast Ohio whose vision is to create “a world without human trafficking, one community at a time.”

Following the program, members participated in a service project, assembling holiday gift bags to be given to survivors of human trafficking by the Collaborative. The bags included a warm blanket, fuzzy socks, journals, affirmation cards, snacks, hot cocoa and chocolates, among other personal items.

Finally, in cooperation with Tower City Center, the club lit the iconic Terminal Tower building in downtown Cleveland orange to bring awareness to the Zonta Says NO campaign. In conjunction with the lighting, signage provided by Tower City Center in the building lobby brought awareness of Zonta’s cause to passersby.

These events were shared through the club’s social media outlets to showcase its members taking a stand and saying NO to violence against women.

Zonta Club of New Rochelle celebrates the 16 days of activism

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Zonta Club of New Rochelle supported Zonta International’s Zonta Says No to Violence Against Women with 16 Days of Activism.

The club used its social media account to post local, national, and international statistics on the ways in which climate change, conflict, human trafficking, child marriage, laws against women’s rights, and intimate partner abuse contribute to violence against women worldwide.

Dressed in orange, club members concluded the final weekend with an awareness walk from City Hall to the high school.

Zonta Club of Laguna launches Cyber Crime Awareness Campaign

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Eighty five people attended the event hosted by Zonta Club of Laguna, Philippines via zoom.

The speaker from the National Bureau of Investigation gave a very powerful and highly informative presentation regarding cybercrime awareness – to make people be more vigilant so they dont become a victim.

The action is important because by understanding the evolving threats in our interconnected world, we can take proactive measures to protect ourselves and preserve our digital identities. Learning how to avoid and prevent cybercrime empowers us to take action and contribute to creating a safer online environment for all.

The goals were achieved through careful planning and execution. The impact of raising awareness on cyber crime is significant for the mission of Zonta. By educating individuals about the threats and providing knowledge on prevention and action, Zonta helps protect people and their digital identities in our interconnected world.

This event is important to the local community because it empowers community members to safeguard themselves against evolving cyber threats. By learning how to avoid and prevent cyber crime, individuals become more resilient and better equipped to navigate the digital landscape, ensuring the safety of their personal and financial information. Additionally, it fosters a sense of collective responsibility in the community to work together in the fight against cyber crime.

Zonta Club of Noosa organizes a walk against domestic violence

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Sunday morning by the river is the place to be for locals and tourists in Noosa – a perfect opportunity to spread awareness of the risks, impact and dangers of gender-based violence as part of Zonta International’s 16 Days of Activism campaign against gender-based violence.

Held annually by the Zonta Club of Noosa, this year’s event attracted State and local Council representatives, Zonta members and supporters and local media, with more men attending this year than ever. Zonta Noosa President, Robyn O’Neill said, “to end violence against women we need to challenge attitudes that perpetuate, rationalise and normalise that violence and deny women’s rights to safety. Shifting behaviours is hard and slow but gender equality means all of us and working with all genders is the only way to see true change. We need the men to stand beside the women all the way. While men can be victims as well, they are overwhelmingly the perpetrators of gender based violence.“

After a week chairing public hearings held by the Youth Justice Reform Select Committee, Noosa MP Sandy Bolton told the group what she had heard taught her much more than a discussion was needed. “What we’ve seen in households across Queensland – it starts right there. It’s all interconnected. The children who are coming out of those households – it is deeply disturbing that we haven’t broken the cycle and we have so much more to do.

“What we have found is there’s a lack of communication to the assistance available and also the early interventions that happen right in our schools. Just about every witness I’ve heard this week has said it takes a community, it takes a society. It’s not just up to government or one person, it takes all of us.

“I ask you to spread the word that there is help and within the homes to reach out. If you don’t know who to reach out to call council, call myself, call somebody and we will connect you. And I encourage you to follow Zonta on Facebook.“

In the news: Safe room opens at police station with help of Zonta Club of Pine Rivers

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A newly created victim statement room is now operational at Petrie Police Station. The room provides a safe place for domestic and sexual abuse victims, as well as other vulnerable people, to speak with police and provide statements.

The Zonta Club of Pine Rivers worked with the station’s Officer-in-Charge to furnish the newly designated space.

Club President Bronwyn Evans says her members raised money to buy furniture, including a sofa and coffee table, to make the room more comfortable for those using it.

“We also provided soft furnishings to bring warmth to the room and make the experience less intimidating,” Bronwyn explains.
“We have also purchased toys and books for any children who accompany the person using the room.”

Police station ‘safe rooms’ were one of the recommendations of the Independent Commission of Inquiry into Queensland Police Service responses to domestic and family Violence.

Senior Constable Keith Morris from the QPS Moreton District Vulnerable Persons Unit inspected the room at Petrie Police Station during an informal earlier this month.

“The Zonta Club of Pine Rivers has created a room which feels comfortable and secure, using calming colours and furnishings,” he says.

“Attending a police station to report serious offences can be an uncomfortable experience and this space will be excellent to assist police when speaking with victims of domestic violence and other traumatic offences.

“The creation of this room supports police acting in a trauma-informed way to get the best possible outcomes for victims.”
Zonta Clubs throughout Queensland are working with local police stations to furnish and equip the safe rooms that have been designated.

It is part of Zonta District 22’s ‘Soft Rooms’ project.

“Zonta International’s mission is to build a better world for women and girls. It envisions a world in which no woman lives in fear of violence,” Bronwyn says.

“We hope this project helps local victims know there is a safe place available to report, and escape, violence.”

Source: https://www.moretondaily.com.au/news/safe-room-opens-at-petrie-police-station