During the 16 Days of Activism, Zonta clubs in Belgium united their voices to say NO to violence against women, especially cyber violence. The clubs kicked off the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign with a press conference and panel discussion at Brussels City Hall.

The club addressed the prevalence of gender-based cyber violence at the press conference. Statistically, 2 in 10 adults using social media have experienced some form of cyber harassment, but the figure is twice as high amongst adolescents. They urged that special attention be paid in the country to not only support and guide victims but also prevent harassment from happening.

Cyber violence is an increasing problem and is too often gender-based. It can take many forms, ranging from harassment and revenge porn to threats of rape, sexual assault or even murder. Perpetrators can be partners, ex-partners, colleagues, schoolmates or, as is often the case, anonymous individuals.

Cyber violence disproportionately affects women and girls, causing severe psychological harm and deterring them from digital participation. Some are particularly exposed, such as young girls, women’s rights defenders, journalists, public figures and politicians. Online abuse and harassment limit women and girls from expressing themselves freely and without fear. They are being silenced and isolated.

Joining Area Director Régine Claeys to speak at the event were UN Women-Brussels Office Director Dagmar Schumacher, Eleanora Esposito, a gender-based violence researcher at the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), Professor Lisebet Stevens and Erika Frans, a senior expert on sexual health. Each speaker provided insights on how to work together to end gender-based violence and support victims.

At the end of the press conference, the clubs unveiled a graffiti artwork commissioned by EIGE on the theme of digital sexual violence for the City of Brussels by Belgian street artist CAZn. After the campaign, city hall plans to find a permanent place for the artwork to continue inspiring, stimulating, and guiding Brussels youth in their personal and professional development – a message of hope.

Click here to watch a video the clubs made for the event.

This year, the Zonta Club of Madison, USA, launched a Facebook campaign, passed out more than a thousand orange ribbons and donated to a food pantry as a part of their Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women club actions.

Facebook campaign

The club had four focus areas for this year’s campaign: domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, which they highlighted on Facebook.

The club also included information on local resources. The campaign received comments from clubs in District 6, Zonta Club of London, Brisbane and Club of Beaudesert Area Australia, California, Hamilton, Ontario and more.

Orange ribbons

The club handed out 1,500 orange ribbons with information cards at several holiday community events. The Madison Municipal Building and the Overture Center for the Arts were lit in orange at the event. 

16 Days Service Project

In honor of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, each club member donated 16 food items to the Middleton Outreach Ministry Food Bank. 

Along with painting their city orange for the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, the Zonta Club of Burbank Area, USA, engaged in various activities to raise awareness and encourage action to end gender-based violence in all its forms.

The campaign began with a Proclamation from the City of Burbank, presented by Mayor Jess Talamantes. Then the lights at City Hall, Burbank Water and Power and Nickelodeon were turned orange in a brilliant display of government and corporate support.

Zontian Marva Murphy set up a presentation at the Central Library expressing the story of Zonta’s advocacy to end gender violence. Girl Scouts painted orange cut-outs of women and placed them in area businesses promoting Zonta and the campaign. Club President Kelli Potts led club members with a table display at the Burbank Farmer’s Market, and the campaign wrapped up with a self-defense workshop for the public at Inspire Martial Arts and Fitness.

“The Zonta Club of Burbank is thankful and grateful for the support it has received from the City of Burbank and its agencies to bring attention to the campaign to end violence against women,” said Lieutenant Governor Gloria Salas.

For this year’s Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign, the Zonta Club of Cincinnati, USA, partnered with Women Helping Women (WHW), the local YMCA and the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Libraries (CHPL) in planning various activities.

Kickoff

On 25 November, the club kicked off the Zonta Says NO campaign at the Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center, where Club President Melinda Hepfner was the emcee. In attendance was the city’s Vice Mayor, Jan-Michele Kearney and Denise Driehaus, the Hamiton County Commissioner and founder of the Hamiton County Commission on Women and Girls.

Later in the evening, many iconic buildings in the city, such as Bengal’s Paycor Stadium, the courthouses and the Duke Energy Convention Center, were illuminated in orange. 

Bookmarking the event

The club partnered with seven public libraries to distribute Zonta Says NO bookmarks with the hotline numbers for WHW and the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati. With the staff, club members will host speakers from WHW and the YMCA starting on 1 January 2023.

The club hopes that with their united voice speaking out against gender-based violence, they will become louder in bringing awareness to the issue and building a better world for women and girls.