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Twenty Zonta Club of Chatham-Kent members and citizens marched across the Third Street bridge in Chatham, On., over the noon hour Monday Nov. 25. The group hoped to bring attention to the Say No Violence against Women campaign and mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence towards Women. Diana Martin/Chatham Daily News/QMI Agency

From the Chatham Daily News

Battling against chilling winds, a group of 20 people spent the lunch-hour Monday marching along the Third Street Bridge to bring awareness to violence against women.

Terry Finley, wrapped head to toe to keep warm, was overwhelmed by the experience.

“I’m a victim of sexual abuse and emotional and psychological abuse as a child. I came out because I want to raise awareness that there are people out there this has happened to,” Finley said. “To let people know you don’t have to be a victim, you can overcome.”

The Zonta Club’s Say No campaign march marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence towards Women and kicked off 16 days of activism which will end Dec. 10 on International Human Rights Day.

“I think we’re inclined to think it happens in other parts of the world, but not in our own neighbourhoods,” said Hilary Henley, past-president of the Zonta Club of Chatham-Kent. “It is as much an issue here as it is throughout the world. In Canada, every six days a woman is killed by her intimate partner – that’s one woman a week.”

Finley said at first she didn’t see the warning signs in her relationship and felt unable to leave as it escalated.

“When I got out of the relationship I started to go to counselling and my eyes started to be opened,” she said. “I’m starting to see it in other areas, not just in peoples’ relationships and childhoods, but in public society there is a lot of manipulation and intimidation making you feel low, your self-esteem is coming down.”

The group chose the bridge because it’s a high-traffic area for cars and pedestrians.

“Part of the Zonta mission is to improve the status of women in our own communities and internationally, and violence against women is a huge issue,” Henley said. “We want people to think about it. Thinking about it might lead to a change in behaviour.”

Making strides against violence | Chatham Daily News.

To kick-off the 16 days of activism, the Zonta Club of Hilo hosted an event to say thank you (mahalo) to organizations within their community that help to prevent domestic violence and violence against women and girls all year long.

Members invited the prosecuting attorney, his staff, a representative from the mayors office, local police and fire crews and workers at agencies like DFS and others to come and have some food and learn about our Zonta Says No campaign.

They also created a business card with tips for the holidays to help prevent stress and provide information and resources available within our community and included our Zonta Says NO ribbon. Also at the event were displayed a shoe tree with each pair of shoes representing someone in the community who lost their life from domestic violence. The goal was to thank the community, increase awareness about our campaign, Zonta Says No and to provide encouragement and empowerment as we enter the holiday season.

Dr. Susan Harmon, President of Zonta Club of Lincoln presenting cell phones to Carrie Gave, Logan County Sojurn | Logan County Herald

From the Logan County Herald:

The Zonta Club of Lincoln recently gave donations to the Logan County Court Advocate’s office for Sojourn Shelter to support local domestic violence victims. So far in 2013, the Court Advocate’s office has assisted 70 clients with Emergency Orders of Protection and provides ongoing assistance. The club collected used cell phones which can be re-programmed and given to women to call 911 in an emergency. Zonta Club of Lincoln also used $800 of last year’s turkey dinner profits to set up a fund at Lincoln IGA.

Many domestic violence victims have no choice but to “grab the kids and run.” They often have no formula, food, or diapers or any means to buy them. Charlie Lee at Lincoln IGA has often quietly provided items to these families at no cost to them. Zonta Club of Lincoln chose to support his efforts to help local domestic violence victims. Access to this fund will be given only by the Sojourn Court Advocate to the neediest clients. The community’s ongoing support of the annual Zonta Turkey Dinner allowed this generous donation.

Zonta Club of Lincoln is part of Zonta International, which has 30,000 members in 65 countries worldwide. Zonta recently launched “Zonta Says No,” an international campaign to raise awareness of and increase actions to end violence against women and girls both locally and around the world.

More information: http://logancountyherald.com/454/53836/a/lincoln-zonta-donates-to-sojourn-shelter

On 25 November, the Zonta Club of Gaylord Area fought high winds, cold temperatures and snow to honor the United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women by assembling a display on the courthouse lawn. 128 flags were solemnly placed. Each flag representing one of the reported Otsego County victims of domestic abuse or sexual assult from this past year. The Zonta Says No Banner was displayed behind the flags.

Jessica O’Dell, Victim Advocate for Otsego County, provided the statistics used by Zonta. From 1 October 2012 to 30 September 2013 there were 11 child abuse, 9 criminal sexual conduct and 108 domestic assault cases reported in Otsego County. Gina Theriault, local Zonta member and Community Corrections Services Program/Case Manger comments that “These are recorded numbers of abuse, and there are many more instances that are never reported. It is our goal to bring awareness to the situation and work towards reducing domestic violence within our community. If you are a victim of domestic abuse or rape/sexual assault we encourage you to call the Women’s Resource Center for help.” Jan Maninelli, Executive Director of the Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan commented that “In addition to the numbers you already have, the Women’s Center served 23 sexual assault victims that would be among the numbers not reported to the police and/or prosecutor.”

Local Zonta members are collecting non-perishable food items for the Safe Home of the Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign. The Safe Home serves women escaping abuse from a five county area including Otsego County. Staff from Gaylord’s office will drive Otsego County residents to the Safe Home located in Petoskey.

Last year, the Safe Home provided 119 domestic abuse survivors and their children with 3,382 nights of refuge. Families were provided with more than 10,100 meals, as well as all their daily needs. Domestic abuse services for survivors are provided at no cost. The Zonta Club of Gaylord Area also sponsors an annual scholarship through the Women’s Resource Center to help Otsgeo County Women returning to school after escaping abuse.

Amber Theriault, President of the Zonta Club of Gaylord Area comments that “it is vital we not only support and advocate for local women, but also for women throughout our world. It is disturbing that one in three girls will experience violence. By better understanding the plight of victims on an international level we can better understand domestic developments. Look at human trafficking. It is an international problem that has become one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States. Gangs have discovered that it is easier to obtain ‘product’ and that they are less likely to be prosecuted than when dealing drugs. Zonta International has worked to inform members through annual workshops and conferences so that we can better serve our communities. If you visit a rest-stop along I-96, you’ll likely to see one of Zonta International District 15’s posters translated in three languages with the Michigan Human Trafficking Hotline phone number.”

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence is an international campaign originating from the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute sponsored by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership in 1991. Zonta International’s nearly 1,200 clubs in 65 countries are participating in this effort in their local communities in support of Zonta Says NO, a campaign to raise awareness of and increase actions to end violence against women and girls around the world through service and advocacy.

“We cannot and must not ignore the fact that violence against women and girls is still pervasive in all kinds of countries and societies, with one in three girls impacted during their lifetime,” said Zonta International President Lynn McKenzie. “It’s in our backyard. Zonta International has been committed to its prevention and eradication for many years. In 2013, as the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women focuses on fighting violence against women, we support the initiative with ‘Zonta Says NO’.”

Since June 2012, the Zonta International Foundation has raised more than $600,000 to fight violence against women. Zonta clubs across the world have organized more than 40 events as part of Zonta Says NO, from panel discussions on violence against women and screenings of topical films, to displaying Zonta Says NO banners and hosting charity auctions.

Zonta Says NO began in November 2012 and will continue through December 2013, focusing on the service and advocacy actions of Zonta clubs and districts to prevent and end violence against women and girls in their local communities. Zonta International’s ongoing efforts to end violence against women and girls are carried out through the Zonta International Strategies to End Violence against Women (ZISVAW) program and through Zonta’s partnerships with the United Nations and its agencies.

“Expect Respect”

The launch of the Zonta Club of Adelaide Hills Inc. (and Mount Barker) “Expect Respect” project with the Mount Barker Primary School was a great success, attended by around 100 people including many uniformed police officers. The project that displayed students’ artwork was most impressive and the 2014 Calendar is very professional. White Ribbon Ambassador Derrick McManus spoke brilliantly to the children, and led the group outside to shout “Mount Barker Says NO!”, which was heard clearly by all around the Mt Barker Library/TAFE precinct! The Mt Barker Police were also presented with a cheque for new DV Alarms. A “Zonta Says NO” display remains on show at the Mt Barker Library.

“Walk in My Shoes”

The official opening of the Zonta Club of Adelaide’s exhibition at Bank SA in King William Street by Jane Kittel Managing Director of Bank SA and Maria Haggias CEO at Central Domestic Violence was very well attended by guests from community organisations, Zonta, members of parliament and others.  The display of women’s and children’s shoes looks wonderful and, along with Zonta’s “Zonta Says NO” banner, holds prominent pride of place in the foyer and cannot be missed by any customers who enter.   The exhibition runs throughout the 16 days of Gender Activism until Human Rights Day on 10 December – try and pop in, the stories attached are very moving and well worth reading.

This event received local converage. More information appears at:  http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2013/11/25/3898528.htm

SAPOL’s Inspector Peter Kennedy and Zonta International’s Erica Majba at the Walk In My Shoes launch (Brett Williamson – ABC Adelaide)

Zonta International’s Erica Majba and SAPOL’s Inspector Peter Kennedy at the Walk In My Shoes launch discuss White Ribbon Day and the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson stands with members of the Zonta Club of Columbia, South Carolina, USA, joining the campaign Zonta says No to Violence against Women.