On 6 December, the Zonta Club of Hamilton 1, Canada, recognized the Canadian National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women by meeting in front of Hamilton City Hall. Under their Zonta Says NO banner, the club remembered the 14 women murdered at Ecole Polytechnique Montreal on 6 December 1989 in the name of “fighting feminism.”

Representatives from the local YWCA and a local Girl Guide troop joined the club members.

Support for the 16 Days of Activism extended across Canada from coast to coast. Zonta Clubs all over Canada collaborated to invite their local cities and towns to light up in orange. 

The Zonta Club of Halifax, Canada, contacted cities and towns in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador to light up landmarks in the Atlantic provinces. Iconic landmarks illuminated in orange. 

Municipalities proclaimed November 25 as the Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. City Halls, legislatures, government houses- residences of Her Majesty the Queen in Canada representatives, and universities glowed orange and raised flags in solidarity. 

The premiers of Ontario and New Brunswick sent letters of support. The Cape Breton Regional Municipality in Nova Scotia passed a resolution and provided other support. The Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island also voiced her support. 

Zonta clubs issued news releases generating newspaper items, social media posts and TV coverage. Canadian landmarks showcased orange with high-tech illuminations, including webcams for 24-hour viewing. 

A more low-tech but powerful message was sent in Amherst, on the Nova Scotia and New Brunswick border. Mayor Kogan, who has been a stalwart Zonta supporter, issued a proclamation, and as part of the recognition, the town flew the Zonta flag downtown throughout Zonta Week beginning November 25. 

The Zonta Club of Amherst, Canada, participated in the flag-raising. The Cumberland County Museum supported the club’s efforts to stop violence against women. In support of the Zonta Says NO campaign, they simply wrapped a tree in orange.

Despite rain and fog, Zonta clubs recognized 37 landmarks being illuminated to shine a beacon of hope this year. Among them are: 

• Nanaimo, British Columbia – The Bastion Historic Fortress.
• Vancouver, British Columbia – Canada Place Sails of Light. 
• Vancouver, British Columbia – City Hall and Burrard St. Bridge. 
• Vancouver, British Columbia – Bloedel Conservatory. 
• Calgary, Alberta – The Calgary Tower. 
• Edmonton, Alberta – The High Level Bridge. 
• Saskatoon, Saskatchewan – SaskTel Centre. 
• Winnipeg, Manitoba – Winnipeg Sign at ” The Forks.” 
• Niagara Falls, Ontario – Niagara Falls. 
• London, Ontario – City Hall. 
• Kitchener, Ontario – Main Street. 
• Hamilton, Ontario – City Hall and Hamilton Sign. 
• Brampton, Ontario – City Clock Tower. 
• Mississauga, Ontario – Civic Centre Clock Tower. 
• Mississauga, Ontario – Port Credit Lighthouse. 
• Toronto, Ontario – CN Tower. 
• Ottawa, Ontario – City Hall. 
• Ottawa, Ontario – Byward Market Ottawa Sign. 
• Kingston, Ontario – City Hall. 
• Montreal, Quebec – Montreal Olympic Tower. 
• Fredericton, New Brunswick – The Legislature Building. 
• Halifax, Nova Scotia – City Hall. 
• Halifax, Nova Scotia – Province House. 
• Halifax, Nova Scotia – Roger’s Square. 
• Halifax, Nova Scotia – Mt. Saint Vincent University – Seton Building. 
• Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia – Peggy’s Point Lighthouse. 
• Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island – City Hall.
•  St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador – Confederation Building. 
• St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador – Government House. 
• St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador – City Hall.

The rapidly growing population of Southeast Asian migrant workers and immigrants in Taiwan has made public and private sectors aware of the increasing demand for new services. District 31, Taiwan and Mongolia, participated in the latest trend and has decided to aid the new immigrant community as one of its 2020-2022 biannual goals.

On 3 December, a Zonta International delegation led by Governor Vivienne Shen visited Taoyuan New Immigrants Cultural Hall and SouthEastAsian Migrant Inspired (SEAMi) to learn their services in Taoyuan City. Taoyuan City is the home of the largest migrant workers and the fourth largest for the new immigrants in Taiwan. All the delegates were impressed by the contributions and achievements of the two organizations.

In the Cultural Hall, Yu-Ting Chang, the deputy executive director of Taoyuan City’s New Immigrant Joint Service Center, told the delegation that Taoyuan is the first city in Taiwan to establish the section exclusively for the new immigrants’ affairs under its Social Welfare Department. The Center, supervised by the team, coordinates with governmental departments to provide one-stop service for the new immigrants. Legal consultation and language assistance are also provided. The latter has helped COVID-19 information delivery preventing the pandemic from spreading among the immigrant communities.

Located in the rear of Taoyuan Railway Station where the migrant workers gather for leisure, SEAMi, a non-governmental organization established in 2015, was a bookstore for migrant workers’ reading the books from home. It has transformed into a cultural exchange center between new immigrants and the residents. Sing Yee Tan from Malaysia supervises the SEAMi project contracted by the city government on migrant worker service in the Joint Service Center.

Phạm Mỹ Hạnh, a Vietnam language teacher, shared her experiences on community works while making the Aodai bookmarks with the Zontians. They are popular speakers of SEAMi’s training courses and guided tours on Southeast Asian culture for the local schools and communities.

From 25 November to 10 December, the Orange the World: Ending Gender-Based Violence took place. The delegation, led by Vivienne, held a parade carrying the boards and banners of “Zonta Says No to Violence against Women” and walked from the New Immigrants Cultural Hall through Taoyuan Railway Station to SEAMi to urge the public to be aware of the issue. The delegation included Director Diana Cheng of Area 1, President Stasia Huang of Taipei Cosmo Club, President Gui-Chu Yang of Taoyuan Club, President Vicky Wang of Taoyuan Peony Club, and members from the three clubs.

The Zonta Club of Noosa will again stage a walk as part of its international anti-violence campaign, Zonta Says No.

This event is part of 16 Days of Activism held in collaboration with Zontians worldwide and aimed at a local, national and international level to influence the creation and implementation of laws, and to change gender-based attitudes and behaviours to end violence against women and girls. In Australia, one woman in three has experienced physical or sexual assault in her lifetime.

This year’s event is a twilight walk and candlelight vigil to be held on Sunday 28 November from 5.30pm at the Lions Park River Stage on Gympie Terrace.

Noosa police officer in charge Ben Carroll will speak about local violence against women, followed by an update from Zonta Noosa president Margie Fisher on Zonta International’s efforts to assist abused women and girls – particularly those affected by the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan.

Tealight candles will be distributed for attendees to carry on a short walk along the river and upon return to the River Stage, the lights will be placed in 50 odd empty shoes, symbolising the Australian women who have been violently killed this year. The event will end with a minute’s silent vigil.

Zonta Club of Noosa invites you to wear orange and come walk with us to show support of women around the world by attending our event at Lions Park.

From 25 November to 10 December, Zonta Noosa will be spreading the word about this important topic. Look for the Noosa Says No banner in Lions Park, visit our information stands at the Noosa Library and Bendigo Bank, like us on Facebook and follow our journey for those 16 days.

https://noosatoday.com.au/news/10-11-2021/noosa-says-no-to-violence/