demonstrations rallies public displays

In the news: Zonta Club of Chatham-Kent is saying NO to violence against women

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Dozens of people took part in a demonstration at the Parry Street Bridge in Chatham to show support for women who have been the victims of violence, Nov 25, 2021. (Photo by Kirk Dickinson/99.1 News)
Source: CKXS

A pair of local groups have partnered to stand in solidarity and raise awareness about the violence and abuse women face around the world.

The Chatham-Kent Coordinating Committee to End Violence Against Women will be holding a flag-raising ceremony at the Civic Centre in Chatham on Wednesday at 11:45 a.m. to recognize November as Woman Abuse Prevention Month.

“We’re hoping that people understand that [violence against women] is not some sort of new or recent phenomenon,” said Karen Hunter, executive director of the Chatham-Kent Women’s Center and co-chair of the committee. “It’s time to start talking about it. It’s time to start recognizing that this is a really serious issue in our community as well.”

Following the flag raising at 12:15 p.m., committee members will join the Zonta Club of Chatham-Kent for the “Say No on the Bridge” rally on the Third Street Bridge. The aim of the demonstration is to inspire action against violence against women.

“Many times women are being attacked, sexually assaulted or brutalized in their own homes. We want people to recognize that this type of violence against women, against girls, against children, should not be tolerated anywhere, it has no place in our society,” said Hunter. “All of us have that responsibility to do something about it and we all need to take a stand and say that this needs to end.”

The rally is open to the public and those who attend are encouraged to bring signs with the slogan “Zonta Says No to Violence against Women” or any slogan that encompasses the idea.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to engage in open discussions, learn about support resources, and actively participate in the movement to end violence against women.

In the news: Zonta Club of Noosa says NO to violence

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Noosa says no to domestic and family violence was a message sent by the Zonta Club of Noosa.

“Violence against women is not inevitable, it is preventable,“ Zonta Club of Noosa president Robyn O’Neill told a group of supporters who marched along Gympie Terrace last Sunday to say no to violence against women and girls.

“To end violence against women we need to challenge attitudes that perpetuate, rationalise and normalise that violence and deny women’s rights to safety,“ Robyn said.

“Violence is the language of the inarticulate. It’s so true. We’ve seen it in our own lives when people get so angry they can’t speak – that’s when they resort to physical violence. Too many people don’t understand how to express themselves without dominance, power and control.

“Respect starts with a conversation, so let’s start talking. We need to start real conversations about why ordinary people commit horrific acts of violence against the people closest to them.“

The club’s annual walk is part of Zonta International’s 16 Days of Activism campaign (from 25 November to World Human Rights Day on 10 December) against gender-based violence, aimed at raising awareness of the risks, impact and dangers of gender-based violence.

So far this year, 58 women in Australia have been killed in domestic and family violence situations.

Robyn described the campaign as a call for action, a critical part in a global movement “against one of world’s most persistent violations against human rights and that is violence against women“.

“Calls for action are crucial. They shine a spotlight on the issue of violence against women,“ she said.

“They are a moment to create public awareness of what needs to change to prevent it from happening in the first place at all at local, national and international level. Because as we know violence against women and girls is something that effects every country in world.

“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,“ Sandy said.

“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 follow Zonta on Facebook.“

Source: https://noosatoday.com.au/news/29-11-2023/noosa-says-no-to-violence-2/

In the news: Zonta Club Metro Iloilo joins End-VAWC campaignIn the news:

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The members of Zonta Club Metro Iloilo headed by its president, Mrs. Grace Blair.
The members of Zonta Club Metro Iloilo headed by its president, Mrs. Grace Blair.

TO kick off the “16 Days of Activism” campaign against violence against women and children (VAWC), the Zonta Club Metro Iloilo held a motorcade around Iloilo City on Nov. 25, in sync with the observance of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, until Dec. 10, which is Human Rights Day.
Zonta Club Metro Iloilo kicks off the “16 Days of Activism” campaign with a motorcade on the main thoroughfares of Iloilo City on Nov. 25.

Being a group of empowered women in Iloilo empowering fellow women, Zonta Club Metro Iloilo, a member of Zonta International, has carried out programs and projects to help the sector.

The group holds symposiums on teenage pregnancy and online sexual violence in various schools in the city and province of Iloilo, as well as self-defense crash courses at selected high schools.


“One of Zonta’s advocacies, as well as that of pediatricians in Western Visayas, is to stop child abuse. And one form of child abuse we are currently focusing on, which is rampant, is the online sexual exploitation of children,” said Dr. Ma. Theresa M. Hallegado, Pediatrician and Committee Head on Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children.

Hallegado recognized the importance of the internet in education and keeping connections, but she emphasized that it is also a venue for people with ill intentions.

“The primary reminder we give children is to be SMART: Stay safe while browsing the internet; do not meet up with people you do not know; avoid accepting suspicious files you receive; is your source reliable?; and tell somebody if someone on the internet is acting suspicious,” she added.

Source: https://www.panaynews.net/zonta-club-metro-iloilo-joins-end-vawc-campaign/

Zonta Club of Sofia begins the 16 Days of Activism Campaign with a procession

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Each year Zonta & UN mark the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign on 25 November. All Zonta Clubs within Area 05, District 30 also begin the campaign by organizing different campaigns in their cities.

On 24 November, 2023 Zonta Club of Sofia organized a procession in the center of Sofia – Bulgaria’s capital under the motto “NO to violence”.

Instead of illuminating buildings in orange, the club opened a Zonta Says NO alley with trees wrapped in orange. The trees also have plates containing a QR code leading to a webpage with more information about the campaign and useful contacts.

Zonta Says NO Information flyers and orange flags were also distributed during the procession. Talented cheerleaders from Sofia’s First English Language School took part in the march with a performance. The procession was also part of Area 05, District 30’s Campaign “I want to meet the sun, too!”, launched back in 2020.

The campaign’s goal is to work with crisis centers accommodating women and children victims of domestic violence as well as to support the opening of new ones that are highly needed in Bulgaria. The event was attended by citizens, Zonta members and friends and received coverage in the national television.

Zonta Club of Torino hosts flash mob in orange

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During the 16 Days of Activism and the Orange the World campaign, the Zonta Club of Torino, Italy, partnered with the city and the City Public Company of Water to illuminate fountains in the city center of Piazza CLN in orange.

On 27 November, they organized a flash mob in front of the fountains to say NO to violence against women with the presence of journalists and public figures.

Zonta Club of Colombo III kicks off 16 Day of Activism

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A recent survey in Sri Lanka has revealed that one out of every four women beyond the age of 15 years has been subjected to violence at least once during her lifetime. In a country with a population of approximately 22.2 million, 52% of that population is women; the numbers are staggering. Surveys have further revealed that the number of women facing violence has escalated since the COVID-19 pandemic and may be higher now due to the tension in households due to the prevailing economic recession in Sri Lanka.

What is even more troubling is the lack of knowledge in society, especially women, of the avenues available to seek assistance and advice in the event of women being subject to violence. This ignorance in society has led to the importance of raising awareness of the helplines available for women to seek help if they are subject to violence.

To address the lack of awareness on the helplines available for women, the Zonta Club of Colombo III partnered with one of the most popular television channels in Sri Lanka, Sirasa TV and TV1, to create a TV trailer that is telecast every hour throughout the 16 day activism period, to raise awareness on the two main women’s helplines: the helpline of the Women and Children’s Bureau of the Sri Lanka Police and the helpline of the Ministry of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment in Sri Lanka.

Club President Kamini Senaratne participated in the morning show of Sirasa Television on 24 November and on the Yes FM Radio Show to talk about Zonta’s initiatives in advocating against violence against women.

To kick off the 16 Days of Activism and the Zonta Says NO to Violence campaign on 25 November, the club organized a walk with all the Sri Lankan clubs, which is a first in the country. The walk started in Independence Square to raise awareness of the need for the elimination of violence against women and also to create awareness of the state-run helplines available for women to reach out to in the event of being subject to any violence.

The walk also drew attention to the two prominent state-owned women’s helplines through the placards.

One of the most common modes of transport, the trishaws, were dressed in the Zonta Says NO message, and orange buttons were distributed alongside the walk.

In the true Zonta Spirit, the walk was supported by the Zonta clubs of Colombo I and II and other organizations, such as the Sri Lanka Sumithrayo, Inner Wheel Club of Colombo and Ms. Hettigoda Industries.
The enthusiastic participants enjoyed the walk, an excellent opportunity to network and refresh connections while sending a vital message to the public.

Zonta Club of Liestal provides information on violence against women

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The Zonta Club of Liestal, Switzerland, created an informational booth in Sissach on violence against women. Zontians handed out emergency cards with phone numbers to women and men in the village. In addition, they were able to place these cards in several shops.

Zonta Clubs of Ibadan I and II says NO to Violence Against Women

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The Zonta clubs of Ibadan I and II, Nigeria, attended the flag-off of the #16Days of Activism by placing two large billboards and placards in strategic locations with lots of traffic to generation awareness toward the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign. The promotional items also say NO to child marriage, gender-based violence and sexual abuse.

To the clubs, the female child has a right to life and education; no child should be married off at the time she should be working on building her future. Men are not exempted from this education, and statistics have shown that they are the major perpetrators of this abuse. They believe they can protect children and women’s rights and the future together.

Zonta Club of Hua-Lian kicks off #16Days

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In response to the annual 16 Days Campaign Against Gender-Based Violence, the Zonta Club of Hua-Lian, Taiwan, took action to advocate the end of all forms of gender-based violence on 25 November, launching the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women global campaign.

The campaign aims to raise awareness and expand advocacy to end violence against women and girls around the world. The club entered the community initiative and gained public support and recognition.

Zontians from New Zealand paddles for Zonta Says NO

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Zontians from New Zealand formed a 15-member team for a Dragon Boating Team Paddling in Orange for Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women. Members came from the Zonta clubs of Christchurch-Canterbury, South and North. The team practiced in orange so that any team practicing could see them.

The team had their first Regatta, where they put their tent up among 17 other tents, with the Zonta flag and an orange lady. Their goal is to get exposure for this campaign.

Amongst the 17 teams, about 400 participants in total, the Zonta team was the only one to have paddled five times. At every 3x200m and 3x500m race, all the participants yelled, “Go, Zonta!”

Just walking to the pontoon to race, and after the race, walking back to the tent, they were doing the same. The team found the atmosphere exciting.

Although the team came in last at every race, the Breast of Life Women’s team gave them a guard of honor with their paddles at the lace race. The gesture deeply moved them.

The team was overwhelmed with the exposure and support for Zonta.
They saw the impact their presence had at the Regatta by just getting out there in the community doing the race, having fun fellowship and promoting their cause. They were the only team in bright orange, and a comment was that they couldn’t be missed, and people were asking what is Zonta.

The team has future Regattas coming up to further promote the Zonta Says NO campaign, and they will be paddling until March.