• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Residents would have noticed a splash of colour around Lake Macquarie at the moment.

But, behind the vibrant façade, is a strong message the Zonta Club of Hunter Newcastle hopes will attract plenty of attention.

Members recently set up a very interesting yarn bombing display at the Rotunda, in Warners Bay, to acknowledge 16 Days of Activism from 25 November to 10 December.

It also ties in with the organisation’s biggest annual advocacy campaign Zonta Says No to Violence Against Women. 

Lake Macquarie City mayor Kay Fraser was on hand to officially kick-start the initiative, which included a “Spirit of the Lagoon” dance from Belmont High School students and several guest speakers.

“Council and Zonta worked closely for several months to achieve the striking tree wrapping,” she said.

“However, it’s all about gaining the community’s attention to the plight of domestic violence (DV).

“It is powerful yet sad to need to have such an event.”

Zonta vice-president Jill Maclachlan admitted the exhibit had already drawn much interest throughout the community.
“This is a first for the club,” she said.

“Members have been knitting and crocheting strips of yarn for some time.

“The exhibition’s a wonderful way to expose the tragic topic of domestic violence to locals and visitors alike.
“Many trees are decorated with orange flowers or hearts.

“Mainly because that colour symbolises a bright and optimistic future free from violence against women and girls.
“If only it were that easy.

“The display also creates great visibility for our club in the region as well as promoting the work of Zonta.

“We have a mask exhibit at the Belmont and Charlestown libraries, too, for the 16 Days of Activism.

“They represent the range of emotions women experience during DV.”

Source: https://newcastleweekly.com.au/zonta-yarn-bombers-add-a-splash-of-colour-at-warners-bay/

“Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women” is championed by Zonta Clubs worldwide. The Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley joins the annual awareness and educational campaign which takes place during the United Nations 16 days of Activism from Nov. 25 through Dec. 10.

In 2016, the Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley, in collaboration with the Domestic Violence Center, City of Santa Clarita and the local Sheriff’s Department, formed Zonta’s “SCV Red Dress Project” to raise awareness of domestic violence within the community by displaying red dresses and a red vest that represent individuals who have lost their lives through domestic violence. The display symbolizes the reality of domestic violence and the impact it has in our community. Standing together with Zonta and highlighting the SCV Red Dress Project campaign is the Assistance League Resale store located at 26045 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita. From Nov. 25 – Dec. 10, customers will see red dresses hanging throughout the store and informational brochures will be available at the registers.

“Having meaningful conversations with community members, and forging partnerships with other local organizations raises awareness about the impact of domestic violence in our community,” said Nicole Miller, Zonta Club of SCV president. “With the club’s focus on ending gender-based violence, these connections send a strong message to the community that we stand together in saying no to violence against women!”

Globally, Zonta International’s ongoing efforts to end violence against women and girls are carried out through the Zonta’s International Service Program and Zonta’s partnerships with the United Nations. Zonta International established the “Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women” campaign in Nov. 2012.

Currently, thirty-five percent of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence. “Zonta envisions a world where no woman lives in fear of violence. Through the ‘Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women’ campaign, our members and allies stand together, uniting our voices to advocate for all those who have suffered gender-based violence,” said Ute Scholz, Zonta International president. “Zonta is needed now, more than ever, to continue its work to end violence and build a better world for women and girls.” To learn more about the worldwide campaign, please visit www.zontasaysno.com.

Zonta International (www.zonta.org) is a leading global organization of individuals working together to build a better world for women and girls. More than 27,000 members in 62 countries work together to make gender equality a worldwide reality for women and girls.

To learn more about Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley, go to www.scvzonta.org.

Source: https://scvnews.com/zonta-scv-joins-u-n-s-16-days-of-activism/

A pair of local groups have partnered to stand in solidarity and raise awareness about the violence and abuse women face around the world.

The Chatham-Kent Coordinating Committee to End Violence Against Women will be holding a flag-raising ceremony at the Civic Centre in Chatham on Wednesday at 11:45 a.m. to recognize November as Woman Abuse Prevention Month.

“We’re hoping that people understand that [violence against women] is not some sort of new or recent phenomenon,” said Karen Hunter, executive director of the Chatham-Kent Women’s Center and co-chair of the committee. “It’s time to start talking about it. It’s time to start recognizing that this is a really serious issue in our community as well.”

Following the flag raising at 12:15 p.m., committee members will join the Zonta Club of Chatham-Kent for the “Say No on the Bridge” rally on the Third Street Bridge. The aim of the demonstration is to inspire action against violence against women.

“Many times women are being attacked, sexually assaulted or brutalized in their own homes. We want people to recognize that this type of violence against women, against girls, against children, should not be tolerated anywhere, it has no place in our society,” said Hunter. “All of us have that responsibility to do something about it and we all need to take a stand and say that this needs to end.”

The rally is open to the public and those who attend are encouraged to bring signs with the slogan “Zonta Says No to Violence against Women” or any slogan that encompasses the idea.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to engage in open discussions, learn about support resources, and actively participate in the movement to end violence against women.

MARQUETTE, MI (WJMN) – Downtown Marquette will be aglow with orange lanterns for the next couple of weeks in an effort to bring awareness to domestic violence.

The Marquette chapter of Zonta International has embarked on a campaign to shed some light on the problem of domestic violence against women. With the help of over 25 Marquette businesses, The Zonta Club has placed orange lanterns in the front windows of participating shops throughout Marquette. These lanterns symbolize the light Zonta hopes to bring to the issue of gender-based violence. This campaign runs from November 25th, which is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, until December 10th, International Human Rights Day. This time period is in conjunction with the United Nations 16 days of activism. Zonta member Lucy Contois says this anti-domestic violence effort is represented in two ways.

“Zonta has taken on two symbols, the lantern and the umbrella. The lantern is an orange-lit lantern that symbolizes shedding light on the issue, spreading the word, and educating the umbrella as a symbol of protection and shelter. I think it also tells the community when you have to participate in businesses in a close area, and this displays I think it helps the community to understand it’s a caring community. It’s hard to convince somebody who’s been through abuse for a long time. It’s hard to break that because there’s a lot of fear. They’re isolated economically, and physically. And so, it’s hard to know that they can count on somebody outside of that place. So, it’s very difficult and the only thing we can do as a community, one of the things we can do as a community is all of us understand that.” Said Contois.

Contois urges everyone to take a selfie with one of the lanterns or umbrellas and post it online. You can do so at either The Masonic Mall or at the display inside Diggs in downtown Marquette.

Source: https://www.upmatters.com/news/lanterns-shed-light-on-domestic-violence/