District 17 Area 5 organized the Zonta Earth Store, a trade fair promoting local products made by women micro, small and medium entrepreneurs.
Through its partnership with the Department of Trade and Industries of Camarines Sur, the Zonta Club of Naga & Camarines Sur, Philippines, participated by inviting 20 local women entrepreneurs, thereby promoting economic empowerment among them.
The trade fair runs for the whole 16-Day Activism Campaign from November 25 to December 10.
The Zonta Club of Mitchell, Australia, visited local businesses and organizations leading up to 25 November with a letter of introduction and an “Orange Lady.” The project asked local groups to collectively display the “Orange Lady” in a prominent position within their business or organization so staff, customers and passers-by could view ‘her.’
The ‘Orange Lady” will be displayed throughout the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. Every day during the 16 days of activism to end violence against women, businesses and organizations hosting the Orange Lady are featured on the club’s social media platforms.
Their business is highlighted, and they are thanked for raising awareness in our local community and being part of the solution. The project has been widely and wholeheartedly supported throughout the local area. Businesses have been very positive, keen to show their support and appreciative that they have featured their participation on social media.
The club has also gained many “followers” on Instagram, and our posts have been shared on Facebook. The project has been a great success because of its simplicity, and all members have been able to contribute, creating a high impact with a small amount of effort by everyone.
On 28 November, the Zonta Club of Cebu II, Philippines, held a seminar/workshop that focused on blaming the perpetrator of gender-based violence instead of the survivor, establishing a referral network, and collective efforts to stop the violence.
Female police officers assigned to the Women and Children Protection Unit (WCPU) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in different cities and municipalities of Region 7 participated in the workshop, titled “Strengthening PNP WCPU through Gender-Responsive Delivery of Service to VAWC Survivors.”
The workshop was conducted by attorney Myles Gonzales-Esquivel, executive director of Miriam College Child Rights Advocacy Center and legal consultant of Child Protection Unit-Philippine General Hospital. She is also a member of the Philippine Commission on Women.
The goal of the workshop was to equip service providers and front-line workers with techniques to provide gender-responsive delivery of services. Gender-responsive service providers practice continuum care, respect, informed consent, non-judgmental attitude and gender-fair language.
People should not engage in victim-blaming, a devaluing act that occurs when the victim or victims of a crime or an accident is held responsible, in whole or in part, for the crimes that have been committed against them, Gonzales-Esquivel emphasized.
“It is important to keep in mind that a person who has been affected by gender-based violence is never responsible for the perpetrator’s action. The responsibility and the accountability should be given to the perpetrator of violence and not to the victim-survivor,” she said.
Gender-based violence (GBV) and violence against women and children (VAWC) persist because of inadequate economic resources, which creates patterns of violence and poverty among women and LGBT+ people. When unemployment and poverty affect men, this can also cause them to assert their masculinity through violence.
According to Gonzales-Esquivel, GBV is an issue involving patriarchy and relations of power and is based on a feeling of male superiority and dominance, with an intention to relegate the female to a subordinate role at home, at school and at work, in the community or in society as a whole.
During the workshop, participants were divided into groups to identify areas for improvement, and corresponding recommendations on how to ensure gender-responsive and socially-inclusive services to GBV and VAWC survivors. Since resources are limited, those who work with VAW survivors must set up a referral network involving other agencies for a more coordinated and cost-effective response to violence.
The Zonta Club of Ashtabula Area, USA, purchased two billboards in their county to display the Zonta Says NO campaign and hotline information for human trafficking.
The club met at one of the billboards with fellow advocates to walk down to the city’s lift bridge. Along the way, the shared local, state and federal statistics and laws on violence and trafficking. Upon reaching their final destination, the club lit the lift bridge in orange for 16 Days of Activism. At the lighting, they invited speakers from the local Homesafe Women’s Shelter, County officials and interested community members to speak about violence and trafficking.
For the annual 16 Days of Activism and Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaigns, the Zonta Club of Kauai, USA, brought awareness to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), including Native Hawaiians. The Red Dress Exhibit will be featured at the Kauai Society of Artists gallery at Kukui Grove Center from 25 November to 10 December for public viewing.
The public will learn more about #MMIWG at a special one-day event on 29 November, at Kukui Grove Center, which will include speakers, resources from YWCA and the American Association of University Women who are also partners of the club during the 16 Days of Activism.
Read the story by Dennis Fujimoto in this link: https://www.thegardenisland.com/2022/11/18/hawaii-news/zonta-red-dress-campaign-to-bring-attention-to-indigenous-females/?fbclid=IwAR1J53gYubS465lCvh-BrMG5LfaTlCQfEoc-Mkp5jD_LgCNRKHyg8zVYAVU
The Zonta Club of Cheyenne, USA, presented a What Were You Wearing sexual assault survivor exhibit at Laramie County Community College from 7 to 11 November.
This impactful display asked viewers to understand that sexual assault is never about clothing. One intent of the exhibit was to release survivors from the burden of self-blame. It also challenged those who viewed the display to reflect on why the myth of connecting clothing and sexual assault continues to exist. The stories used in the exhibit were donated by survivors of sexual assault and were used with their consent. Viewers were asked to see themselves reflected in not only the outfits but also in the stories.
This realization moves one away from blaming the victim for violence and places the responsibility where it belongs, on those who caused the harm. The exhibit was offered in cooperation with Laramie County Community College.
On 5 November, members of the Zonta Club of Prince George’s County Area participated in the Prince George’s County’s States Attorney’s 3rd Annual Purple Bike Ride to raise awareness of domestic violence.
As a prelude to the 16 Days of Activism, the club offered “Selfie Frames” for riders to commemorate the event and communicate their agreement with stopping the silence. They also gave away t-shirts donated by their local public television and information about domestic violence resources in our community. This event helped raise awareness of their club as well as domestic violence.
The women of the Zonta Club international initiated a conference on November 08, 2022 in Ouagadougou.
The activity aims to raise women’s awareness of gender-based violence.
The women who took part in this meeting within the framework of the 103rd anniversary of the Zonta Club international benefited from capacity building on GBV.
According to Rasmata Derra, sociologist, expert in gender and development, GBV takes into account acts that inflict suffering, constraint and deprivation of freedoms against a person because of their sex.
Dame Derra indicated that women and girls are the main victims.
Rasmata Derra, sociologist, gender and development expert
She also explained that forced marriages, physical violence, sexual exploitation, moral violence and abandonment of the marital home are all part of forms of gender-based violence.
Also according to this source, a WHO report published in 2012 revealed that per year, 475,000 deaths linked to interpersonal violence, of which 82% among women against 18% among men, are recorded.
Solange Hien, President of the Zonta club of Ouagadougou for the 2022-2024 biennium
President of the Zonta club of Ouagadougou for the biennale, Mrs. Solange Hien invites the entire population to get involved in the fight against GBV.
She believes that it is necessary to break gender inequalities.
“ This is only possible if we ourselves master these concepts of inequalities between men and women,” she said.
The speakers plan to advocate in order to achieve Zonta’s objectives for the 2022-2024 biennium.
This includes serving locally and globally, improving the legal, political, economic and professional status of women.
In addition, they intend to promote justice, universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
As a reminder, Zonta International is a global service, interprofessional, apolitical and non-denominational organization that brings together women and men from around the world with responsibilities in administration, commerce, the liberal professions and the business world.
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Its members put their skills at the service of others by conducting discussions and actions aimed at promoting women in social and cultural life.
The organization was born on November 8, 1919 in Buffalo, USA.
In a prelude to the 16 Days of Activism, the Zonta Club of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, shared a series of 16 videos called “16 Days of Inspiration.” Each one-minute video features an accomplished woman in Hong Kong sharing their visions for building a better world for women and girls.
The trailer dropped on 8 November, and from 9 to 24 November, the club will release an episode per day leading up to the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign. The ensemble includes Guo Jingling, an Olympic gold medalist and UNICEF ambassador and Dr. Rebecca Lee Lok-Sze, a renowned explorer. Rebecca is the first Hong Konger and woman to have visited the Arctic, Antarctica and Mount Everest.
As members of Zonta International, the Zonta Club of the Corry Area works year-round to support Zonta’s mission of “empowering women through service and advocacy.” Zonta International is a leading global organization of professionals building a better world for women and girls.
A main goal of Zonta International’s advocacy is eliminating gender-based violence against women. That advocacy includes observing “16 Days of Activism,” which focuses on “Zonta Says No to Violence Against Women, Child Marriage and Teenage Pregnancy.”
The focus of 16 Days of Activism is to raise public awareness of worldwide problems. Every year during this time, Zonta clubs and Zontians worldwide take action and advocate to end gender-based violence in all its forms.
The global campaign began Friday and runs through Dec. 10.
The campaign’s goal is to get more people to not look away but to speak up and take action. Through a multitude of events, projects and advocacy efforts, Zonta clubs and members around the world are dedicated to ending gender-based violence.
Connie Cooper is the president of the Zonta Club of the Corry Area. She said the club has set a goal to raise awareness of, and take action to prevent, gender-based violence during the 16 Days of Activism.
“Follow our Facebook page for daily messages highlighting the issues surrounding and actions you can take toward ending violence against women and girls. Please ‘like’ and ‘share’ every day to spread the message.”
To view the page, join the campaign to end violence against women and share the messages, go to Facebook.com/Zonta Club of Corry.
On Nov. 8, Zonta International celebrated its 103rd anniversary. For Zonta’s 100th anniversary in 2019, the Corry Zonta club purchased a yellow banner with the theme “Zonta Says No to Violence Against Women” in black letters. The banner also shows the symbol of Zonta. For a few weeks each summer, the banner is displayed across North Center Street to spread the word to the Corry community about Zonta’s mission.
But the Corry Zonta club does so much more. Zonta International’s ongoing service efforts are demonstrated through numerous local projects and programs and through partnerships with the United Nations and its agencies.
“Locally, the Zonta Club of Corry supports the efforts of Safe Journey and its affiliate, Purple One, both financially and with service projects,” Cooper said. “Specifically, during the 16 Days of Activism, the members of the Zonta Club of Corry donate Christmas gift bags filled with essential items to be given to women and children in shelters who are fleeing domestic violence with the hope of bringing a little joy to their world during the holidays.”
The Corry Zonta club also invited Steven Sears, program specialist at Safe Journey, and Erie County District Attorney Beth Hirz to recent meetings. Sears spoke about Purple One, a bystander intervention program where victims can seek help from trained individuals. Hirz explained the widespread challenges facing women and girls in Erie County and the practices put into place to help them. She also discussed practices in place to help victims of human trafficking.
The Corry Zonta club also volunteers for Shower the Shelter, when members ask the community to donate essential items to Safe Journey for victims of domestic abuse.
The Corry club is a member of District 4, Area 5. District 4 includes 31 clubs with about 620 members in six areas from eastern Ontario, Canada, to western New York and Pennsylvania.Area 5 also includes clubs Warren, Erie, Bradford, Jamestown, N.Y., and Olean, N.Y. District 4 was home to the first Zonta club, established in Buffalo in 1919.
Sheena Poole, of Ontario, Canada, is the District 4 governor.
“I’m very proud of the Zonta Club of Corry. Members are increasing awareness and tackling issues to ensure women’s rights are recognized as human rights and that no woman or girl lives in fear of violence,” Poole said. “The International Zonta Says No campaign brings 62 countries, 1,103 clubs and 26,790 members together to say ‘No.’ We need community members to partner with the Zonta Club of Corry to stop the injustices and build a better world for women and girls. Join with Zonta and say ‘No!’”
Violence against women and girls threatens countries, inhibits economic progress, and prevents women from contributing to their community and creating better lives for themselves and their families, according to Zonta International.
Cooper said the Zonta Club of Corry is more than willing to join in the effort to halt violence against women and girls.
“It is such an honor and privilege to serve the women and girls in our local community. The need is great and we are here to help in any way we can,” Cooper said.
In addition to Cooper, officers of the Corry club are Judy Daley, first vice president; Marie Zamiska, second vice president; Reva Lowry, treasurer, Maryann Mook, secretary; and board members Barb Diehl and Donna VanTassel.
