During the 16 Days of Activism, the Zonta Club of Eskilstuna, Sweden, decorated a Christmas tree with a Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women message that has been placed at Retuna, the town’s large and popular recycling mall. The tree will remain on display until after Christmas. Its message will be seen by nearly all visitors entering the mall.

The club successfully published an article on violence against elderly women in the local newspaper on November 25th. One of the club members was also interviewed on local radio about this issue.

The Zonta Club of Colombo I, Sri Lanka, set up a stall at a popular pre-Christmas bazaar and pop-up sale. The stall featured banners and posters addressing gender-based violence to raise awareness about the need to end violence against women and girls.

All members dressed in orange and wore orange ribbons, distributing ribbons to other stallholders and attendees at the event. The club also sold baked goods and cards to raise funds for future programs, using the slogan “Your Purchase! Her Empowerment.”

Ten members participated in the event, and they passed out 125 ribbons to attendees throughout the day in support of the issue.

The club also held a gender-based awareness program at the Ma’s factory in Minuwangoda for staff.

The resource person Saama Rajakaruna addressed issues related to”

• Enhancing the understanding of concepts related to gender and
• Explored issues related to sexual and gender-based violence and the need for appropriate action by all at home, the community and the workplace.

On 25 November, the Zonta Club of Dhaka IV, Bangladesh, kicked off the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence with great zeal and enthusiasm to say NO to violence against women and girls.

The club marched through the densely populated area of Mirpur, holding banners and placards with powerful messages. They also placed stickers urging an end to violence and raising awareness about gender-based violence on the backs of rickshaws, public toilets, public buses and other visible locations.

While the campaign will last only 16 days, the club’s unwavering commitment to this cause will inspire hope and action every day of the year.

On 25 November 25, Zonta Club of Dhaka III, Bangladesh, kicked off the 16 Days of Activism with a rally and a discussion focused on cybersecurity awareness and gender-based violence.

The rally was essential in drawing attention to the pervasive issue of gender-based violence. With a special emphasis on cybersecurity, the club highlighted modern forms of violence, such as online harassment and bullying, which mainly affect women and young girls. These efforts align with Zonta’s mission to advocate for women’s rights and eliminate violence while enhancing visibility to amplify its influence and reach.

Attendees and beneficiaries expressed, “We now have the knowledge and tools to confront online harassment.”

The club also held another event on 29 November at Insignia Resort and Hotel in Tongi, Dhaka, featuring several esteemed guests, including District 25 Governor Dr. Zareen Delawar and various district leaders from other Zonta Clubs. The primary focus of the event will be to raise awareness about gender-based violence, a critical issue in Bangladesh. The club also aims to reduce this violence through advocacy and community awareness programs, including rallies, seminars, webinars, edutainment and visual displays at key locations in Dhaka.

The event will highlight the reality-based story of “Resilience and Hope,” showcasing the struggles of women in Bangladesh facing societal barriers due to gender inequality. It emphasizes not only personal empowerment but also the future of their children.

A key part of the event will be the inspiring story of a victim of child marriage and cybercrime. The audience will be encouraged to pledge to support Tamanna with medical care, childcare, training, and rehabilitation. The motto of all participating clubs is “Leaving No One Behind.”

Tamanna was married at the age of 15 and endured brutal abuse from her alcoholic and gambling husband. She faced physical abuse from her in-laws, who were upset that her father, a day laborer, could not meet the dowry demand. After escaping her first marriage, she was unfortunately victimized a second time by a scammer whom she married, only to be abandoned three months later while pregnant. She currently feels hopeless, unable to envision a future for herself and her unborn child.

This event aspires to inspire change and empower women, showcasing their resilience and hope.

On November 28, the Zonta Club of Kankaanpää, Finland, participated in the mummification of the Kaisa statue at the Kankaanpää market. This hat-making event was initiated 27 years ago by principal and artist Liisa Juhantalo. The Zonta Club has been involved in the event for 21 years, promoting the message of the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign.

During the event, a song composed and arranged by music college instructors Eeva and Kaisa Kulhua was performed by the students of the music-oriented class.

In the evening, a parents’ meeting was held at the Kankaanpää hall, featuring Jenni Stubbe from the Sua for Sua Somessa team. Following a remote lecture, a panel discussion on digital harassment took place. The panelists included Tiia Rosnell from MLL, high school principal Mari Fabig, high school student Aliina Pirttikangas, and middle school student Liisa Keskinen. The parents’ evening was also available on the city’s YouTube channel.

Zonta clubs in Area 1, District 20, Finland, jointly organized a film screening and panel discussion on the themes of the film on the opening day of the Zonta Says NO campaign.

The clubs screened Niina Vuorisara’s documentary film, Only One of Us, followed by a discussion led by highly knowledgeable panelists. They explored the film’s focus on sibling violence and the broader theme of violence against women. The panelists were professionals experienced in crisis situations involving youth, women and families.

The film had a profound impact on the audience, poignantly showcasing a little girl’s experience of loneliness and insecurity. It illustrated how the violence directed at her went unnoticed for several years. Despite the heavy themes, the film carried a hopeful message: recovery from such harsh experiences is possible. While the topics were indeed tragic, there was also a sense of fulfillment, emphasizing the importance of not ignoring these issues. One panelist’s words were particularly memorable: “It is our duty to intervene in injustices when we see them, whether we are an aunt in the supermarket lobby, a neighbor, or a friend.”

On 25 November, the Zonta Club of Janesville, USA, accepted a Resolution from the City of Janesville that recognizes the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign reached people in a variety of ways.

The City of Janesville lit the bridge in the Arise Town Square orange to bring awareness to the campaign; the club engaged in a social media campaign and posted an “Orange Lady” outside of the Womans’ Club on S. Jackson Street to bring awareness to the characteristics of Gender-Based Violence and the ways to help someone dealing with domestic violence.

“The Zonta Club of Janesville says NO to violence against women through its support of the YWCA, its work to make the world a better place for women and girls, and by bringing awareness to this important issue in our community,” said Club President Lori Hanewold. “There is no place in our society for violence.”

As Day 2 of its 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the Zonta Club of Annapolis, USA, text messaged U.S. President Joe Biden to use his power to direct publication of the ERA:

Dear President Biden

Please use your power to direct publication of the ERA now before January. Thank you.

High above Schaffhausen, the Munot fortress lit up in orange on 25 and 26 November 25 to symbolize ending violence against women. The Zonta Club of Schaffhausen, Switzerland, is participating in two events in the varied program that will be held during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence: A city tour on the topic “Ways out of violence” and a movie matinee.

The city tour takes interested participants to institutions that end violence and help victims: Police, public prosecutor’s office, court and child and adult protection authorities. The experts discuss their work at each location and show how women can be helped.

Two films dealing with different types of violence will be shown at the film event. One is about violence in romantic relationships, and the other is about structural violence in dealing with illegitimate children in Switzerland between the 1960s and 1980s.

The Zonta Club of Ilocos Norte, Philippines, spearheaded a city-wide walk to end violence against women and children with the local government. Ten non-government women’s organizations and the women employees of the local government, with the city vice mayor, joined the club on 25 November to kick off the 16 Days of Activism.  

The walk started at the Centennial Arena and ended at Aurora Park with a morning Zumba. Then, the club passed out awards for “Best Slogans/Poster” on violence against women and girls. Everyone wore orange shirts for unity, walking to spread awareness of the campaign to stop gender-based violence.

Day 1: ENVISIONING

The club spent three days distributing Zonta Says NO tarpaulins to all the Local Government Units (LGUs) to prepare the whole province of Ilocos Norte in a united campaign for the 16 days of Activism.

The club also distributed the tarpaulins to 21 towns and two cities, the Ilocos Norte Provincial Capitol and the Zonta Building in Laoag City, including hotline numbers of local police and social welfare offices.  

Zontian Mary Ang sponsored the printing of the tarps while the members were grouped into three teams that were deployed to the southern, northern, and eastern towns of Ilocos Norte for distribution.

Mayors, their staff and Police Personnel gladly accepted these tarpaulins.

DAY 2 – KNOWLEDGE

On Day 2, the club spread knowledge and data on gender-based violence in their community. Data gathered from the Philippine National Police Provincial Office of Ilocos Norte shows that the crime statistics for Violence Against Women (VAW) in Ilocos Norte for 2024 dwindled to less than half as compared to the numbers in 2023.

As a staunch advocate of anti-violence against women and girls, the club has continuously visited all 21 municipalities and two cities of Ilocos Norte, promoting gender equality and challenging attitudes that normalize violence and abuse. They do this by raising public and political awareness of the causes of VAWC and encouraging action on prevention.

The club’s advocacy and campaign work focuses on mainstreaming gender equality, specifically with pupils and students and in the media. They also work directly with key sectors, other women’s organizations and local government units to develop women’s skills, capacity and understanding regarding the prevention of VAWC.

The club firmly believes that they have played a significant role in reducing the incidence of VAWC through its information dissemination campaigns and support for women in conflict situations. However, the club recognizes that its work is not finished. They will continue striving for a better world for women and girls, focusing on advocacy and taking concrete actions.