advocacy

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

In the news: Zonta Club of Wyoming Big Horns, USA puts the finishing touches on SCSO soft interview room

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SHERIDAN — Over the weekend, the Zonta Club of Wyoming Bighorns put the finishing touches on a new soft interview room at the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office.

The room was a collaboration between the club and the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office, while Texas based nonprofit Project Beloved provided the paint, furniture artwork and decor. On Dec. 10, the club members painted the room and completed the installation of the furniture, blankets, decor and photographic artwork.

The process of interviewing victims and perpetrators of domestic violence or sex crimes can be difficult to navigate, Sheriff Levi Dominguez previously told The Sheridan Press, and it’s important to ensure the victim feels comfortable and safe speaking about their experience. 

While Sheridan Police Department has a soft interview room, the sheriff’s office did not.

Soft interview rooms are private rooms where detectives can speak to victims in a more comfortable environment than a standard, sterile interrogation room, and soft interview rooms often trade cold metal tables, blank walls and uncomfortable chairs for couches, paintings and toys for minor victims.

“Evidence based practices call for a trauma-informed approach to reports of rape and sexual assault and a soft interview room is considered an integral component of (trauma informed care),” the Project Beloved website said. “Creating a space that is comfortable rather than stark allows the participant to feel physically and emotionally safe and can have a significant impact on the interview process.”

Project Beloved “strives to educate, advocate and collaborate to change the conversation about sexual assault and empower survivors to find their voices,” according to the organization’s website. Zonta Club member Cassie Sundberg said the SCSO soft interview room is Project Beloved’s 82nd room in the country and second in Wyoming. 

The Zonta Club of Wyoming Bighorns became an official chartered club of Zonta District 12 and Zonta International Oct. 15. The group meets monthly on the second Thursday of the month. The Zonta Club is dedicated to advocating “for equality, education and an end to child marriage and gender-based violence,” according to its website.

In addition to setting up the soft interview room, the Zonta Club of Wyoming Big Horns recently partnered with Project Beloved to prepare bags of clothes, toiletries and other amenities — known as “Beloved Bundles” — to be distributed to victims of sexual assault after forensic examinations are performed. 

Source: https://www.thesheridanpress.com/news/local/zonta-club-puts-finishing-touches-on-scso-soft-interview-room/article_623e3b98-9916-11ee-b240-03d09531e74d.html

Zonta Club of Kankakee marches to say NO and more

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The Zonta Club of Kankakee, USA, and family members walked in the Kankakee lighted parade, where hundreds of people lined the streets.

The club had a banner supporting the 16 Days of Activism, signs on their car with orange lights and everyone wearing orange scarves. They also handed candy out to the kids lining the streets and buttons.

The club was announced over the loudspeaker, talking about their mission locally and internationally and how these 16 days were important to end violence against women worldwide.

The club also collected gift cards this year at their Christmas gathering for a local domestic violence shelter and sexual assault center. These gift cards were for gas, groceries, clothes and any other needs the shelter and center needed. They collected hundreds of dollars in gift cards and cash to help them.

Zonta Club of Pori I says NO to violence with a short film

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On Girls’ Day, the Zonta Club of Pori, Finland, premiered its short film Viimeinen potku, which means Last Kick in English. The script was written by Teatteri (Theater) Ulpu’s Maiju Junko and Oskari Huhtanen.

Oskari Huhtanen said, “They didn’t want to belittle, but they didn’t want to gloat over the topic either. They wanted to make a serious and real-life short film.”

The film was produced by Glad Media/Anu Glad, who also directed it. Oskari Huhtanen was responsible for directing the actors. Ronja Virtanen plays the main role, and there are also about 20 children and young people from Ulpu’s hobbyist groups. The film is shown in schools in the neighboring towns of Pori and Ulvila.

The name of the film has multiple meanings. It can mean the end of life or the end of bullying. The situation of violence among children and young people has worsened. The club thought about what could be done for the cause and how to spread the word as efficiently as possible. This is how the idea of an anti-violence film was born, aimed at young people and their parents, and the core idea is that it would act as a conversation starter in schools and at home.

Zonta Club of Central Tuguegarao finishes the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence with a bang!

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Zonta Club of Central Tuguegarao, Philippines, finishes the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence with a bang!

For each of the 16 days, the club held at least one activity.

Day 1
Activity 1: Envisioning video.

Activity 2: Zonta Eco Angels Tree Planting Project at the Zonta Forest and Garden.

Activity 3: Simultaneous changing of Facebook Frame and cover photos.

Day 2

Activity 4: Alay-Agay 3.0 Indigenous Peoples Empowerment Program

Day 3

Activity 5: Zonta Information Caravan on Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response

Activity 6: Healthcare Information and Management Services Road Show

Activity 7: Tarpaulin display

Day 4

Activity 8: GWAPA 2.0

Activity 9: Cagayan State University – Carig Campus, GAD Seminar for 1200 Students

Day 5

Activity 10: We Remember Film Viewing held at multiple locations

Activity 11: General Membership Meeting

Day 6

Activity 12: Pinning of Orange Ribbon at Cagayan State University-Carig Campus In partnership with Golden Z Club of Cagayan State University – College of Engineering and Architecture

Activity 13: Pinning of Orange Ribbon at Cagayan State University-Andrews Campus In partnership with Golden Z Club of Cagayan State University-College of Business, Entrepreneurship and Accountancy

Activity 14: Pinning of Orange Ribbon at Cagayan National High School In partnership with Z Club of Cagayan National High School – Senior High

Day 7

Activity 15: ZCCT x Padday na Yena Cooperative Seminar with CDA

Activity 16: ZCCT honored with Plaque of Recognition at LCAT-VAWC Functionality Awards

Activity 17: All About Eve


Day 8

Activity 18: Bike Against Violence

Day 9

Activity 19: Memory Wall

Activity 20: 2-Day skills training for candle-making

Day 10

Activity 21: Kapihan para sa Kababaihan (Coffee Meet for Women)

Day 11

Activity 22: Men Against VAWC video

Day 12

Activity 23: Slogan and Poster Making

Activity 24: Student Signature Campaign

Day 13

Activity 25: Call to Action, Open Letter to Media

Activity 26: Lecture Safe Spaces And and Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act in partnership with the Golden Z Club of Cagayan State University – College of Engineering and Architecture.

Day 14

Activity 27: Leaders Speak video

Day 15

Activity 28: Day of Service at the Haven for Women and Girls

Day 16

Activity 29: Unveiling of Arts Against Violence

Activity 30: Awarding ceremony for the Search for Most VAW Responsive Barangay of Tuguegarao City

Zonta Club of Hong Kong says NO with CEASE Crisis Centre

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The Zonta Club of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, concluded its #16Days of Activism with a legal talk for the female victims and survivor-mentors under the Victim for Victim (V4V ) project in collaboration with the CEASE Crisis Centre.

Zontians Sharon and Karen discussed important topics such as divorce proceedings, child custody and alimony distribution. The participating women victims found the talk highly informative and gained valuable insights. Before the event, the club established connections with the participants and volunteers, which meant great to them as they felt the club’s genuine care and support.

The CEASE Crisis Centre plays a vital role in supporting victims of sexual violence and those individuals/families facing domestic violence or in crisis who require support, regardless of age, gender, and race, by offering 24-hour hotline services and intervention assistance.

The CEASE Crisis Centre 24-hour Hotline is (852) 18281.

Zonta Club of Prowers County’s 16 daily events for 16 Days of Activism

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The Zonta Club of Prowers County, USA, completes 16 daily activities supporting the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women and the 16 Days of Activism campaigns. In addition to attending the proclamation signing at the Prowers County Commissioners’ Meeting, members performed daily activities from 25 November through 10 December, such as:

  • Hanging a banner at the train depot.
  • Decorating a storefront window.
  • Setting orange pinwheels at the County Courthouse and County Annex.
  • Placing silhouettes at entrances to the library, community building and courthouse.
  • Installing orange ribbons around downtown light posts.
  • Participating in the Red Sand Project to spread the message across town locations, including Lamar Community College.

Several events were open to the public, including the In Her Shoes Event and Discussion and a showing of Knots: A Forced Marriage Story at the Cultural Events Center. Additionally, the club donated funds and gifts to the Domestic Safety Resource Center at a potluck instead of a dinner out.

The final weekend concluded with a “Take Back the Night” walk downtown and a photo op at the train depot, signaling the last day. A request was made for the club to present its award-winning advocacy program at the District 12 Area 4 meeting in Cañon City in April 2024.

Zonta Club of Denver says NO with The Blue Bench

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This year, the Zonta Club of Denver, USA, and The Blue Bench (TBB) organization met at the TownHall Collaborative Brewing Company to promote the Zonta Says NO campaign. The Collaborative is one of many breweries in the Denver area that has received SafeBars training through TBB.

TBB works to end sexual assault through prevention and cure, and their SafeBars Project provides training to staff in establishments that serve liquor so that they can recognize and respond to sexual harassment and potential assault incidents. The club has provided funding for several years to continue this important training effort.

The club also had a proclamation entitled, “Zonta Says No to Violence Against Women and Girls,” read and adopted at the Denver City Council meeting to support the Zonta Says NO campaign. District 4’s City Councilwoman read the proclamation, and several club members attended to receive it after the meeting.

Zonta Club Kathmandu conducts Zonta Says NO awareness program for students

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The Zonta Club Kathmandu, Nepal, organized an awareness program in association with the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), Nepal Police, and Ncell as part of its 16 Days Activism on Gender-Based Violence program on 10 December 10 at St. Mary’s High School, Lalitpur. The chief guest of the event was AIG Kiran Bajracharya.

The event saw the participation of around 800 students from Sanskrit Madhyamik Bidhyalaya, Bhanu Madhyamik Bidhyalaya, Nepal Adarsha Madhyamik Bidhyalaya, Himalaya Madhyamik Bidhyalaya, St. Mary’s High School and Mary Ward School. The club provided a skit that raised the different issues faced by women. Inspector Shanta Lama from the CIB Nepal Police shared information about law and crime, while Yashmine Bhattarai from Ncell shared information on cybersecurity.