The Zonta Club of Harrisburg-Hershey, USA, held its Zonta Says NO to Gender Violence rally on 9 November. In support of Zonta International’s mission of eliminating trafficking, this year’s event focused on preventing and stopping human trafficking. Nine legislators and representatives from anti-trafficking organizations presented insightful information on current legislation and best practices on recognizing and eliminating human trafficking. 

To learn more about the speakers’ presentations, the club urges you to visit their website.

The Zonta Club of Pontiac North Oakland, USA, was permitted by their local Pontiac main library to place a Zonta Says NO display in the main case. The display went up in October for Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and it will continue to stay there for the 16 Days of Activism.

As a part of their annual observance of the 16 Day of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the Zonta Club of Cebu II, Philippines, launched a nationwide photo competition. This year’s theme is Women at the Core of The Pandemic: Celebrating Their Resilience and Strength. The contest is open to everyone in the Philippines, and it seeks to celebrate the creative coping mechanisms and strategies women made to mitigate the effects of COVID-19.

The club chose their theme to celebrate women’s tireless and often thankless work in mitigating the pandemic’s spread. There is much evidence to support that women have been disproportionately affected by the global pandemic. Despite this, they are being called upon to be the backbone of recovery in their communities. Women stand at the frontlines as healthcare workers, caregivers, innovators, community organizers, and leaders combating COVID-19. Their tireless work helps to highlight both the centrality of their contributions and the disparate burds that women carry.

The contest will accept photo submissions until 15 November 2021. Each photo must include a brief description explaining how the images capture and interpret the contest theme. A panel of judges is composed of distinguished photographers and women advocates. They will judge the entries based on originality, thematic integrity, technical execution and artistic merit.

To better serve the local community during the pandemic and prepare for more advocacy actions during the 16 Days of Activism, the Zonta Club of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, created a non-profit YouTube channel. The club launched their channel with more than 14 videos uploaded.

Their channel is shared with service partners to allow access to health, culture and self-care by women of all socio-economic groups. The club will be posting in-person health sharing session videos with users of the Sheng Kung Hui Lady Maclehose Center and a “Prevention of Early Pregnancy” video during the 16 Days of Activism. 

The club is asking for other members to subscribe to their channel to maintain their “Non-Profit” status.

The Zonta Club of Fredericksburg, USA, has partnered with the Fredericksburg Fire Department, Fredericksburg Police and Sheriff’s Department and Fredericksburg EMS to say “NO” to violence against women and girls during the recent Zonta Says NO campaign.

For 100 years, Zonta International has contributed to achieving a world free of violence against women and girls through service and advocacy. Locally, the Zonta Club of Fredericksburg participates each year in a 16-day campaign, running from 25 November to 10 December, to remind their community that gender-based violence and trafficking is not only a worldwide problem, but also a local issue.

On 16 November, as one of his first duties as their new mayor, Charlie Kiehne signed a proclamation declaring 25 November as Say NO to Violence Against Women Day in Fredericksburg, Texas. The support of their mayor, along with the Fredericksburg Police Department, Fire Department and EMS is truly appreciated by the club. Their campaign slogan this year is “Red and Blue back the Orange”.

The club’s campaign, which started nine years ago, continues to grow and evolve each year. It is amazing how much of a difference each action has made for various communities, families and women.

As part of their 16 Days of Activism, the University of Jamestown Golden Z Club, USA, partnered with the North Dakota Safety Council to host a self-awareness and self-defense class.

The students were taught how to be aware of their surroundings in public. They were also taught “Krav Maga” techniques to respond to potential attacks.

The students appreciated learning ways to keep themselves safe. The club applied for and received an NDSC scholarship to help pay for this course, which was offered free to the student body.

While the world continues to hold its breath during this pandemic, clubs in District 24 wanted to review how much we were able to achieve during the 16 Days of Activism in 2020, despite all the challenges faced in this period. Clubs displayed strength and conviction in getting the message out that violence against women is not acceptable either in New South Wales and The Australian Capital Territory nor the rest of the world.

All District 24 clubs had to use and adjust to Zoom to plan their campaigns as they were under lockdown for much of the preceding period. Many clubs went on to use Facebook, Instagram and Twitter on each of the 16 days. Other clubs were able to mount public displays, especially in public libraries, when other venues used in the past such as riverfront walks and beach fronts did not allow walks/marches or banners.

One club was able to organize the ringing of a Rotary Peace Bell alongside the main lake in the nation’s capital; one ring for each woman killed as a result of violence. A number of politicians attended, so this club was able to take advocacy directly to the people who can enact legislation.

Another club made a marvelous short clip that was played in a major cinema complex and would have grabbed the attention of every attendee at the movies.

Other clubs sought interviews with politicians and also advocated and continued to bring pressure to extend domestic violence legislation.

Other fantastic projects included lighting displays on bridges and clock towers, stickers for the backs of toilet doors and visits and displays for high school students.

Those clubs using social media and public displays made a point of drawing people’s attention to the non-physical, as well as the physical aspects of violence directed at women. These include financial, emotional and other intimidating behaviors that coerce women. These are often the triggers that precede a homicide and yet many people seem unaware or do not recognize this.

In the middle of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, the Kungälv community in Sweden was shocked by several attacks against women.

A group of young men allegedly attacked three women walking their dogs during early evening, in the middle of the small town. After the third attack, the Zonta Club of Kungälv spoke with several local hockey, soccer and handball teams to ask them to join forces against the violence and to create security in the area.

The teams were asked to move their training sessions to the area and to exercise outdoors during a couple of weeks and the Zontians made COVID-19-safe power walks. Several sports teams joined and two companies sponsored vests for the Zonta club.

The local media wrote two articles and the Zontians have continued the power walks once a week and will continue during the pandemic, of course while following all safety regulations. The police have increased their presence in the area and no more attacks have been noticed since.

The 16 days of activism took place between Nov. 25 to Dec. 10, according to Zonta Club officials.  

Due to the pandemic, club officials showed support against violence via Facebook and Instagram during the 16 day period.  

Topics that were covered by Zonta included Orange Day, Bullying, Zonta Says No, Gender Equality, #HeForShe, Ending Child Marriage, Domestic Violence, Female Genital Mutilation, Human Trafficking, Human Slavery, the Red Dress Project and Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women, according to officials. 

The Santa Clarita Zonta Club’s website blog page also shared valuable information that mirrored the social media campaign. 

Advocating with the City of Santa Clarita on an annual basis is an important part of the club’s 16 Days of Activism. 

Once again, the club received a proclamation from the City of Santa Clarita in 2021, according to officials. 

Club members wore orange shirts to signify “Orange the World,” with the color orange being used for International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women which is on November 25, according to officials. 

The Santa Clarita Valley Zonta Says No to Violence Against Women banner was prominently displayed on McBean Parkway at Sunset Hills Drive, according to officials.

https://www.hometownstation.com/santa-clarita-news/community-news/zonta-club-receives-recognition-for-efforts-against-violence-against-women-364380

On 10 December 2020, the University of Jamestown Golden Z Club, North Dakota, completed their 16 Days of Activism activities by hosting a Zoom event.

Transformational speaker Kel Humphries, a native of Queensland, Australia, shared her story of surviving childhood sexual abuse by a family member. Kel, who is now a policewoman, delivered a powerful message of self-discovery, forgiveness and redemption. She answered questions from participants afterwards. The event was free and open to all Zontians within District 7.