The Zonta Club of Brisbane River Inc has been posting “orange ladies” outside businesses along a busy shopping strip in Brisbane to publicize the 16 Days of Activism and the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaigns.

The Zonta Club of Lohja, Finland, turned an old firehouse tower orange once again this year to participate in the fight against the violence against women and girls.

Hundreds on people were at the site on Friday, 26 November, when the lights were lit. The tower is located next to the city market place. The first day of the campaign was also the time of opening ceremonies of the Christmas season in Lohja.

The lighting of the old firehouse tower has become a tradition in Lohja as it was done last year and will continue next year in partnership with local light artist Jari Jalonen.

On 25 November, members of the Zonta Club of Luxembourg, District 27, met with the Dutch Embassy in Luxembourg, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Den Hague, which strongly supports the “16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence” campaign. The embassy took the initiative to “orange” the building and invited the press, politicians, gender-related associations to join the launch. Ambassador Peter W. Kok also met with Zontians.

On this occasion, the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign was also highlighted and Zontians were thanked for the initiative.

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The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is the most comprehensive international agreement on the basic human rights of women. It addresses women’s rights to equality in education, health care, employment, economics, law, property, family relations, marriage and political participation. Research and become involved in the workings of the Convention as it pertains to your country. Learn more: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/

New Zealand Zonta clubs were highly visible on their national day of action, Saturday, 26 in support of the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign. In addition to the sea of orange, clubs in District 16 wrote letters to ministers of parliament requesting the New Zealand Government add urgency to any initiatives that will reduce the statistics associated with violence against women in new Zealand and use the 16 Days of Activism against violence as the time to lift the status of gender-based violence legislation.

The Zonta Club of Hunter Newcastle Inc acknowledged the Zonta Says No to Violence Against Women and White Ribbon 16 Days of Activism campaigns by conducting a Forum in November 2016.

The forum consisted of four panel members from law enforcement, community services, a victim of domestic violence and a trauma expert. Some 90 people attended this event, which demonstrated the concern in the community for issues related to domestic violence.  President Jill Maclachlan said feedback from the evening’s event was very positive.

The Zonta Club of Christchurch South hosted a fundraiser breakfast on 25 November with the Hon. Amy Adams, Minister for Justice, as guest speaker. The Minister spoke about what the government initiatives are in helping curb the rising tide of domestic violence in the country.

Zontians were also represented at the White Ribbon Gathering at Cathedral Square in Christchurch, New Zealand. Zontians joined with members of the military from Burnham Military Camp, the Police, the White Ribbon riders and other like-minded organisations in raising their voices to say NO to violence against women. The terminal of Christchurch International Airport and the Control Tower were once again lit up orange to support our campaign. And this year, the historic Isaac Theatre Royal also came on board in support of our campaign.

In front of a big DIY and gardening store, on Saturday morning, 26 November, Zonta club members handed out a Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women flyer that provided information about the Zonta International Service Projects and local service projects to shoppers.

The Zontians wore reflective vests and gave interested parties a trolley coin, both with “ZONTA SAYS NO” printed on them. Moreover, the store hung a Zonta Says NO banner at the balustrade above the main entrance. The local newspapers and local radio station announced the event some days before.

The Zonta Club of Örebro I, Sweden, partnered with the municipality of Örebro to turn a popular tourist attraction orange in support of the 16 Days of Activism and Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign.

The water tower, known as Svampen (the mushroom) will remain orange throughout the 16-day campaign to spread awareness of gender-based violence. The initiative, which has been featured in newspapers and on television and the radio, marks the first time a club in Sweden or District 21 has lit up a public property in orange.

Ashely Smith holds a sign at the Zonta Club’s demonstration on Friday, Say No on the Bridge. More than three dozen people showed up to wear orange and brave the chilly late-November weather in downtown Chatham for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. (Louis Pin/Postmedia Network)

It started as a trickle of people, a small group of orange-wearing, sign-touting people on the Third Street bridge in Chatham, Canada, on Friday.

By 12:30 p.m. they were no longer a small crowd.

More than three dozen people took part in the Zonta Club’s annual Say No On The Bridge demonstration, part of a month-long campaign to raise awareness of domestic abuse. The event was held between 12:15 p.m. and 12:45 p.m. so people could join in on their lunch break.

“The mission of Zonta is to empower women through service and advocacy,” said Wanda Bell, with the Zonta Club. “We’re trying to get as many people aware of [domestic abuse] as possible.”

Read more on chathamdailynews.ca.

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