The Zonta e-Club of Roma Parioli, Italy, kicked off the 16 Days of Activism with an art exhibition event to stand with the women in Iran. As thousands of Iranian women are risking their lives and taking to the streets to reclaim their rights, the club wanted to celebrate their courage and resilience. The exhibit will remain open for all 16 Days of Activism until 10 December.
The club invited experts such as Dr. Tiziana Ciavardini to speak during the event. Tiziana is an Italian cultural anthropologist and journalist who has lived more than 13 years in Iran – a country that she frequently denounces its anti-feminist regimes.
Many professional artists and beginners, who support the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign, donated their works to the exhibition. Two guests at the opening night were artist Pamela Squarta and Mahroo Hemati, a young Iranian artist.
Until the exhibit closes, guests are welcome to bid on any artwork, and all proceeds will be donated to Zonta International’s Foundation for Women. In addition to the exhibition, there is also a fundraising raffle.
On 26 November, the Zonta Club of Lomé kicked off the 16 Days of Activism at Kodjoviakope Lagos Park by organizing an awareness event with park drivers. Members of the club had a lively discussion with the drivers, who asked to also arrange a session with their wives. Car stickers were distributed for commercial and private cars.
Leading up to this year’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, the Zonta Club of Bunbury, Australia, invited local schools to participate in the club’s “Choose Respect, Expect Respect” poster competition as a strategy to focus on respect.
Bunbury Zonta President Kerry Kerr said, “By talking about respect and exploring what respect looks like, sounds like and feels like through art, we believe that what is and is not acceptable will reinforce positive behavior and contribute to a positive change for the future,” club president Kerry Kerr said.
She added: “The Zonta Club of Bunbury is proud to support the Australian Government’s Stop it at the Start campaign, and the WA Government’s Path to safety: Western Australia’s strategy to reduce family and domestic violence 2020-2030 to help create a future free from violence for women and children.”
Of the 100 entries received, 16 finalists were invited to attend a presentation with their parents on 3 November. Deputy Mayor Tresslyn Smith was there to congratulate the students and present them with their awards.
The Zonta Club of Varkaus, Finland, applied and received 500 euros from the town council, which it used to increase visibility of the club’s Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign.
The club took out a digital page in the local newspaper that includes a link to materials on how to recognize domestic violence, how to meet the survivors, and how and where to get help. This material was produced by the 2021 District 20 Advocacy Committee 2021.
During the 16 Days of Activism, the club shared the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women logo on an LED screen in the middle of Varkaus and by one of the main roads running through the town.
The Zonta Club of Liestal, Switzerland, is displaying orange shoes—which represent women who were killed by femicide in 2022—in 11 shops during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.
On 26 November, the club partnered with Soroptimist Liestal to offer information at a stand and distributed emergency cards with telephone numbers for (potential) victims, as well as orange candles and tangerines.
Understanding that action needs to be taken by architects and interior designers who are responsible for creating spaces for people to live, work and socialize, the Zonta Club of Colombo III, Sri Lanka, conducted an awareness program on the various forms of violence against women for students and staff of the School of Architecture at the SLIIT University. The interactive session created awareness of the problems involved and the effective preventive measures available.
Zonta Clubs in Ibadan, Nigeria, reprised a classic advocacy initiative for its Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign, with the flag-off of a month of advocacy on two major bus routes. Choosing the longest routes through the city of Ibadan, Zonta messages are carried on two buses as livery and handbills are distributed.
In the Philippines, 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women is observed from 25 November through 12 December. Each year, the Zonta Club of Cebu II takes an active role in the 18 Days.
Honoring the theme “UNiTEd for a VAW-free Philippines,” the club will engage in several service, advocacy and information-generation activities that will allow women of all ages to make progress toward reaching gender equality.
Because education and open access to information is key to empowerment, the Zonta Club of Cebu II opened the campaign by inaugurating a Women, Gender and Family Studies Section at both the Cebu City and Mandaue City public libraries. This section is a repository of books, pamphlets, documents and other reading materials on women’s issues, gender mainstreaming, women’s legislative agenda, and methods and strategies to achieve gender equality in the workplace and the community. It is a vital resource center for women who seek to know more about their rights and the opportunities available to them.
“Saying no to violence against women is everybody’s business” is the strong over-arching message that Zonta Club of Cebu II is sending as it commemorates the worldwide global campaign to end gender-based violence. The club seeks to engage all sectors to unite and collaborate to actively fight against any or all forms of violence, discrimination and gender-based abuses and crimes.
In her welcome address, attorney Mae Elaine Bathan, Tourism Undersecretary and President of Zonta Club of Cebu II, stressed the importance of continued efforts to spread awareness of the rights of women and children. Atty. Bathan said. “The victims of these crimes, forms of discrimination and abuses do not have to fight their battles alone. “We are here to empower them. We are here to give them the necessary skills and knowledge. We are here to provide them the avenue by which they can be able to protect their rights and learn to stand up for themselves and say no to any and all forms of abuses,” she stressed.
On 25 November the campaign was launched with calls to action from three vigilant advocates. Ms. Emmeline Versoza, former executive director of the Philippine Commission on Women reported on the status of Filipino Women in the areas of economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, political empowerment and the prevalence of violence against their persons. She stressed that
Ms. Annabelle Maglasang, coordinator, the University of the Philippines Cebu Gender and Development office, talked about Psycho-social Support to Persons who encountered Gender Based violence.
Attorney May Aguilar, the founding partner of Cavad and Aguilar Law firm, discussed the topic “Issues and Challenges That A Woman Face In VAWC: Strategies in Place for Action. She stressed that the only thing eviler than violence itself is our apathy.
The webinar ended with the Zontians taking oaths of commitment to continue their advocacy to campaign against gender-based violence.
The Zonta Club of London, England, kicked off the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence with members donning orange to raise awareness.
The club is again partnering with Savera UK. Savera UK held a “5k to end Honour Based Abuse” event in Liverpool to mark Day 1, with Zonta members participating in the event.
The Zonta Club of London has a comprehensive social media campaign planned to raise awareness about the 16 Days and share what individuals can do to end violence and abuse against women and girls.
The Zonta Club of Ploiesti, Romania, aims to promote human rights, decrease instances of domestic violence, and increase the values of equality, tolerance, integrity and honesty with its “I Have My Right” contest.
High school students are invited to submit a 300- to 700-word essay on the topic of any human or child right. The essays are presented online and the participants received diplomas.
“Through this project, in which knowledge and dissemination of human and child rights is pursued, a better society is created, without violence,” the club said. “And in this way, the Zonta Club of Ploiesti says NO to violence.
Join us in saying NO 