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Zonta Club of Madison’s 16 Days of Activism activities

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The Zonta Club of Madison, USA, launched its 2021 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence on Facebook on 25 November. This year’s campaign focused on domestic violence, sexual assault and elder abuse. Not only was the campaign heavily featured on the club’s and club members’ Facebook pages, but it was marketed on District 6’s profile as well.

Throughout the 16 Days of Activism, the club also initiated several other activities.

16 Day of Activism Proclamation

The Madison Common Council presented a 16 Day Resolution recognizing 16 Days of Activism on 16 November. A press conference was held on 17 November to present a proclamation signed by local law enforcement and representatives and Club TerriJo Saarela. 

Lighting Madison in orange

The club successfully got two buildings lit orange: the Madison Municipal Building and the Dome on the Overture Center for the Arts. They also distributed orange ribbons in baskets to area businesses with information cards promoting the Umbrella Walk. 

First annual Orange Umbrella Brigade Walk

The campaign concluded on 11 December at the club’s first annual Orange Umbrella Brigade Walk at the Wisconsin State Capitol. Participants joined in to tell their vision of a future without domestic violence. Wisconsin State Assemblyperson Lisa Subeck presented a proclamation from Governor Tony Evers. 

The club’s activism and public demonstrations received coverage on the local CBS and Fox News stations during the campaign.

Zonta Club of Saffle-Amal brings awareness to gender-based violence with public displays

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The Zonta Club of Saffle-Amal, Sweden, originally planned to put up five Zonta flags in Säffle square and five flags outside the public library in Åmål to raise awareness to the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign. Unfortunately, the club did not receive the flags in time due to delivery delays, and they plan to revisit the idea for next year’s campaign. However, the club was able to find other visible ways to raise awareness on the issue.

After noticing the many empty display windows in their area, the club decided to stage multiple window displays showing what happens to female abuse victims. The exhibits were put up throughout the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Base Violence, and a Swish number was available for those who wished to donate to the campaign. The window displays gained so much attention that the local papers Säffle Tidningen and Provinstideningen Dalsland wrote a feature on the campaign and the club’s letter to the editor explaining Zonta Says NO.

Club members also spoke out about Zonta and brought awareness to gender-based violence in Säffle and Åmål while wearing Zonta vests, in which they received 2,720 Swedish Krona.

Due to the number of people wanting to know how many assaults are reported in Saffle and Amal, the club also added a window display featuring orange shoes that symbolized the number of assaults reported in the cities for the fourth year in a row. A Zonta Says NO exhibition was also held at the Saffle library to spread information about violence against women.

Throughout the campaign, the club used social media to spread knowledge, developed new relations, and in Åmål, they cooperated with a woman who works with female victims of abuse.

For next year’s campaign, the club plans to cooperate with Kvinnojouren Frida – Säffle-Åmål, a local women’s shelter, to create a more thorough event that focuses on solutions to gender-based violence issues.

Zonta Club of Dhaka IV speaks out on cybercrimes and violence against women

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On 9 December, the Zonta Club of Dhaka IV, Bangladesh, conducted a webinar event on cybercrime and violence against women in Bangladesh and how to prevent it. Female students, their peers, friends and family were encouraged to join in the discussion. 

The club invited three panelists to speak on the topic:

  • The first speaker was Sabah Moyeen, a Senior Social Development Specialist and Gender Focal point for Bangladesh and Bhutan at the World Bank. Sabah talked about the types of cybercrimes prevalent in Bangladesh and their impacts on society. She also instructed the attendants on building awareness around these issues to end the crime.
  • The second speaker was Amirul Haque, an Advocate of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh. Amirul shared his vast knowledge and experience in the cybercrime field and spoke about the legal implications and punitive actions victims can take.
  • The third speaker was Moloy Shaha, who is also an Advocate of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh. Moloy is highly experienced in family law and has been a human rights activist since his youth. He discussed the legal aspects of cybercrimes and violent acts and how to speak justice against perpetrators.

Zonta Club of Fredericksburg walks in her footsteps

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The Zonta Club of Fredericksburg, TX, USA, had big plans again to promote the awareness of the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign.

This year, the club wanted to raise awareness of the campaign in the schools of Fredericksburg and by contacting our local and state government representatives. Zontian Lisamarie Williams met with Dr. Joe Rodriguez, the Fredericksburg Independent School District (FISD) superintendent, to discuss the campaign awareness.

The club aimed to raise awareness in the elementary and middle schools, with the staff’s aid, and in the high schools with the student body. As a young boy, Joe was personally affected by domestic violence, so the campaign was a subject near and dear to his heart.

The theme A Walk in Her Footsteps was proposed for the high school campaign, and orange paper footprints lined up the main hallway for a visual impact for the students to see during the 16 Days of Activism.

The club also placed a table in the foyer with a banner that says Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women and an eye-catching orange table cloth. Various student clubs were enlisted to manage the table during break time and before and after school to hand out pre-cut footprints for students and staff to write words of encouragement on and post them on the walls.

Many students participated in the event, and the wall was full of orange footprints.

The club also handed out orange ribbon stickers for everyone who posted a footprint. Informational cards were available as well.

The campaign was a grand success, and the club is proud of the efforts that the students, student clubs and its members put forth to make the event happen.

Zonta Club of Dhaka II holds movies screening to fundraise and Say NO

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The Zonta Club of Dhaka II, Bangladesh, teamed up with its Golden Z Club of Young Leaders to arrange a movie screening of Rehana Maryam Noor at a cineplex in Dhaka as a part of its fundraising. The event also aimed to create awareness of gender-based violence on 10 December.

The movie is about an assistant professor and single mother who one day happens to witness the sexual assault of one of her students by her superior. The film was nominated at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival and received numerous accolades.

The mayor of Dhaka City North inaugurated the event.

Zonta Club of Montferrier Olympe De Gouge holds round table discussing domestic violence

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The Zonta Club of Montferrier Olympe De Gouges, France, recently held the screening of their project film Moi Auteur de Violence. Director Hélène Polsky will open a round table where legal professionals and organizations supporting female survivors of domestic abuse discuss and consider solutions to ending gender-based violence.

The club welcomes and collects testimonies from female survivors, which is a priority. However, they ask how we can anticipate violence and prevent acting out and recidivism?

Zonta Club of Montpellier Marie of Montpellier educates against violence at schools

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The Zonta Club of Montpellier Marie of Montpellier, France, conducted a training program for young people aged 17 to 21 in a vocational high school. The training module concerned the prevention of domestic violence.

Zonta Club of Ilocos Norte and Mariano Marcos State University College of Teacher Education Z Club presents spoken word poetry contest

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The Zonta Club of Ilocos Norte and the Mariano Marcos State University, College of Teacher Education Golden Z club proudly present their Golden Voice Against Gender-Based Violence, a spoken word poetry contest.

In line with this year’s 16 Day campaign to end violence against women and children, the contest aims to amplify voices against any violence. The competition is divided into two categories, one for females with the theme of women supporting women, and the second is geared towards males with the theme of He for She.

There will be three winners in each category, and they will be given a cash prize. The club also included special prizes for the participants.

Ilocos Norte National High School Z Club plans activities to say NO

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In celebration of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the Ilocos Norte National High School Z Club planned some exciting activities to say NO to violence against women. Here are a few of their planned activities:

  • Essay Writing.
  • Spoken Word Poetry.
  • TikTok Make-up Competition.

The club hopes contestants don’t miss out on the chance to lighten up the world by sharing their talents. Prizes will be distributed to the winners, and the club hopes that we say NO to violence against women together.

In the news: Zonta Club of Kauai at midpoint of 16 Days of Activism

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Photo: Dennis Fujimoto/The Garden Island
The Zonta Club of Kaua‘i, all garbed in orange, present some of the completed Malama Pu‘olo Na Wahine, or care bundles, to Catholic Charities and Child and Family Service, Saturday during the awareness gathering at the Kukui Grove Center.

LIHU‘E — Saturday marked the midpoint of the Zonta Club of Kaua‘i 16 Days of Activism, Zonta Says No to Violence Against Women.

The campaign to raise awareness and end violence against women and girls started on Nov. 25 and will continue until Dec. 10.

“We still have a week to go,” said Edie Ignacio Neumiller of the Zonta Club of Kaua‘i. “But instead of just raising awareness, we’re moving to action.”

Completed Malama Pu‘olo Na Wahine, or care bundles in specially-created drawstring bags created by Girl Scouts in Troops 174, 775, and 4364, were presented to representatives of Catholic Charities Hawai‘i, and Child and Family Service who were present at the Kukui Grove Center food court with information on the services each organization had to offer.

The charities were selected to receive the bundles because a lot of their clients are women and children who cannot afford the items contained in the pu‘olo, or because they are homeless.

“There is still until Friday to go,” Neumiller said. “Supplies are still coming in, and everyone is packing as more bags and supplies become available.”

Zonta Club of Kaua‘i members made a show of force, garbed in orange symbolizing a brighter future, free of violence and serving as a means of demonstrating solidarity in eliminating all forms of violence against women.

Orange also is the color of the International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women that started Nov. 25 as part of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

“We want to thank Sara Miura of Deja Vu Surf Hawai‘i who was so enthusiastic about collecting supplies for the care bundles,” Neumiller said. “Sara had the collection boxes ready from before the Nov. 25 start date. Today, we did a final collection and told Deja Vu to send any potential contributors to the food court.”

During the 16 Days of Activism, the Zonta Club of Kaua‘i set goals to inspire and encourage Zonta clubs and individuals to raise awareness of, and take action to prevent gender-based violence, to let individuals know they are part of a global community of activists and are empowered to take action by being part of the campaign through the donation of care items.

“We’re not just raising awareness,” Neumiller said. “We’re moving to action.”

The Zonta Club of Kaua‘i and the Zonta Club of Kaua‘i Foundation are currently partnering with The Garden Island newspaper for the Christmas Fund that provides funds for people in the Kaua‘i community who need support.

https://www.thegardenisland.com/2021/12/07/hawaii-news/zonta-club-of-kauai-at-midpoint-of-16-days-of-activism/