SINCE 1991, advocates for women’s rights all over the world have been observing the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence from Nov. 25 (the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) to Dec. 10 (the Human Rights Day).

The 16 Days of Activism is an organizing strategy by individuals and organizations around the world to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.

In the Philippines for this year, the national campaign has been extended until Dec. 12, which is observed as the International Day Against Trafficking by virtue of Proclamation 1172 signed in 2006 by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The campaign is now known in the country as “the 18-Day campaign to End Violence Against Women.”

The Philippine campaign aims to raise awareness about gender-based violence against women as a human rights issue at the local, national, regional and international levels and to strengthen local work around gender-based violence against women (GBV-VAW).

Ending violence

This year’s campaign highlights the role and essence of the barangay, as part of a VAW-free community, in consonance with the recurring theme “VAW-free community starts with Me.” Aside from capacitating VAW desk officers and other barangay officials on how to handle VAW/GBV cases, the campaign reiterates everyone’s commitment and contributions to ending VAW and it calls on the general public to make a personal commitment to end violence against women and children.

In keeping with this vital landmark and worldwide campaign, Zonta Club of Cebu II, through the Abay sa Kahayag Committee, has organized a series of activities and advocacy initiatives to highlight the perils and serious consequences of GBV. Most of the endeavors focused on strengthening local mechanisms and building on the required competencies of barangay officials to fully and effectively mandate and implement the directives obligated by Republic Act (RA) 11313, or the Safe Spaces Act, more popularly known as the Bawal Bastos Law — a legal game — changer with Sen. Rissa Hontiveros as principal sponsor and author of the law that aims at bolstering the country’s legal framework in the area of sexual and gender-based harassment.

Safe spaces

The Safe Spaces Act addresses existing gaps and issues on equality, security and safety of both women and men in private and public spaces. It is also intended to expand the scope of RA 7877, or the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995. RA 11313 seeks to prevent gender-based sexual harassment from occurring in streets, public places, online workplaces and educational and training institutions regardless of the motive for committing such action or remarks. It penalizes acts such as cursing, wolf-whistling, catcalling, leering and intrusive gazing, taunting, unwanted invitations, misogynistic, transphobic, homophobic, sexist slurs and persistent unwanted comments on one’s appearance and other such acts. The salient points of the Safe Spaces Act will be discussed at a webinar with a presentation by lawyer Miles Esquivel and the activity will conclude with a motivating and impactful message from Hontiveros.

Other webinars

The 18-day campaign organized by Zonta Club of Cebu II will also feature a webinar on “The Intersecting Influences of Technology on Human Trafficking” with special attention on the methods that cyber technology increases the ease with which traffickers can locate, recruit, coerce and control their victims. Lawyer Katrina Legarda will also present strategies how these same technologies that are shaping and facilitating trafficking and smuggling crimes and creating additional barriers to their detection and investigation can be harnessed to prevent, detect, intervene and ultimately thwart these crimes.

Another webinar will feature personalities who will share their stories and experiences of harassment either as victims or witnesses and how they dealt with the aftermath of the encounters. This will be followed by a very informational presentation by Dr. Rhodora Masilang Bucoy, former associate professor of University of the Philippines Cebu and past chairperson of the Philippine Commission on Women (2016-2020). Bucoy is also a recognized gender and development consultant on techniques and strategies for creating safe and secure physical, virtual or emotional spaces for all.

Enlisting support

With these series of activities, Zonta Club of Cebu II hopes to enlist the support of active participants in the fight to eradicate violence against women and children; to expand accountability and collective responsibility; to include all government units, women’s groups, legal entities and nongovernment institutions; to harness technology, social media, journalism, business and activism; to draw attention to the many ways violence against women and children affects the lives of all people in all communities in the Philippines and around the world.

From SunStar (https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1877684/Cebu/Local-News/Cebu-Zonta-2-End-VAW)

Every year, approximately 20 women will die as a result of gender-based violence in Finland. The Zonta Club of Kankaanpaa had the opportunity to create a display in three business windows in the city center to build awareness of the issue. Orange scarves, candles and lights connected the display to the worldwide Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign. The display will run from 25 November to 10 December 2020.

Zonta Club of the New Territories, Hong Kong organized Advocacy Talks for their Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women Campaign on the theme: Challenges for Women in the New Era

For one talk, the club hosted speakers with sound exposure in women issues in Hong Kong, namely: Prof. Cecilia Chan, University of Hong Kong Sisi Liu, Federation of Women Centre Lisa Moore, Research and Advocacy Director, The Women Foundation.

Club president Anna Lee opened the session addressing the importance of the theme to fellow Zontians. Advocacy Committee Co-Chairs Teresa Lin and Betty Fu expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the speakers for bringing new perspective and important insight to members, and thanked members for taking part in the seminar.

The club also hosted on 19 November “Women Issues in Hong Kong” and on 28 November “Women of Intimate Partner Violence.” During the club’s November business meeting, the club held a video presentation on the “No to Violence in Teenage Dating” conference, as a follow-up to the club’s 2019-2020 advocacy project.

From the 25th November to the end of December, a city bus is running through Giessen, with two big orange traffic boards with “Zonta says NO – stop violence against women!” and the phone numbers of the regional women`s houses, thanks to the Zonta Club Burg Staufenberg-Giessen, Germany. The mayor of the city, the women`s officer and regional press were also present to open the 2020 campaign.

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Every year, from 25 November through 10 December, Zonta Club of Charlevoix, Michigan members join hands with Zontians around the world to raise awareness of domestic violence. On 25 November, from 11:45 am to 12:15 pm, Zonta Charlevoix members stood in silence with local law enforcement (Charlevoix City Police Chief Gerard Doan and Charlevoix County Sheriff Chuck Vondra) to lend credence to Zonta Charlevoix’s 2020 campaign ‘TIED TOGETHER THROUGH VIOLENCE’. Club members held fast to an orange silk scarf (with knots every six feet to promote social distancing), with orange scarves tied around their necks, and orange masks covering their faces. Zonta Charlevoix says NO to Violence Against Women. With a Mayoral Proclamation issued 16 November 2020 by City of Charlevoix Mayor Luther Kurtz, 10 December 2020 has been officially declared as “END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN DAY IN CHARLEVOIX”.

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Today is Giving Tuesday and the last day to participate in our Every Member Every November District Giving Challenge. Click here to donate to the Zonta Foundation for Women to support Zonta’s international service projects and help us end violence against women and girls.

The Zonta Club of Osnabrück Westfälischer Friede, Germany, illuminated its historic town hall of the Peace of Westphalia.

Because of cooperation with the Osnabrück Marketing Company, the city center of Osnabrück shone orange. Next to city hall, the municipal library and the Heger Tor, the central shopping streets Krahnstr., Bierstr., Lortzingstr. and all public buildings along the rampart surrounding the city—including many large trees—were illuminated in orange.

The club’s initiative was covered by Tagesschau, a German national and international television news service.

The Zonta Club of Kungsbacka, Sweden, successfully celebrated Orange Day on the first day of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.

The club has had an exhibition in Fyren (The Lighthouse), a local cultural building, for three years. This year, they added a craft exhibition together with the Red Cross and VS, a company for education. It is also the first time the building a small bridge are lit up in the color orange.

The club inspired at least 50 people to knit or crochet items in orange. Even an artist created some beautiful things. People either worked alone at home or at digital craft cafés. It was a great way for people to have company, which is so important in these isolating days.

All items are now shared in The Lighthouse. As it is not recommended to visit official buildings due to COVID-19, all can be seen from outside through the windows.

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The Zonta Club of Pori I in Finland wrapped orange scarves around statues in the city of Pori.

The goal of the activity is to get people to ask what the orange scarf is and what it means, spreading awareness that women and girls are still victims of violence.

In Finland, 30% of women have been victims of physical and/or
sexual violence by a partner since the age of 15, the European Institute for Gender Equality reports.

Therefore, District 20 has made intimate partner violence a focus of its advocacy efforts. During the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign, Zontians in Finland arrange various actions to advocate on behalf of violence survivors.

The Zonta Club of Pori joined with Soroptimist International Pori for an Orange Days event on 28 November in the Pori Market Square.