When not married young, girls are more likely to receive an education and economic opportunities that will help them to break the cycle of poverty for themselves and their daughters.
Zonta Club of Portland members raise awareness in multiple ways for 16 Days
As a first measure to raise awareness, the Zonta Club of Portland, District 8, encouraged the Mayor of Portland to officially proclaim 25 November as International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which he has now done.
Additionally, members lit the Morrison Bridge orange as part of the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign.
During the lighting event, two members were interviewed by KOIN 6 TV and appeared on the 5:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. news. In addition, the video and an article appeared on their website. Another station, KGW-TV, posted a video of the bridge lit up on Facebook with the headline: The Morrison Bridge is lit orange tonight to recognize International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The Portland Tribune newspaper also posted an article on their website. All of the news coverage has received many positive reactions online, increasing Zonta’s presence in the city.
Zonta Club of Saarlouis donates proceeds from movie screening to women’s shelter
As part of their activism for the 16 Days, the Zonta Club of Saarlouis, District 28, hosted a screening of a popular movie to collect donations to go toward helping women in their community.
The movie was the German drama In The Fade, about a German woman whose family is killed in a terrorist attack perpetrated by neo-Nazis.
Since the movie is popular in the community, over 140 people attended the event. All donations received were given to women refugees.
In Germany, there are over 350 women’s shelters and many offer shelter for refugee women and children.
Zonta Club of Hong Kong recognizes Zonta Says NO with Service and Advocacy Day
The Zonta Club of Hong Kong’s Service and Advocacy Day showcased the club’s women’s empowerment initiatives. The District 17 club’s event included a coloring competition advocating saying NO to child marriage and NO to youth pregnancies.
In celebrating Zonta International’s Centennial Anniversary, the club also paid tribute to their 100 service ambassadors and volunteers who have made significant contributions to the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign. Each of their names was listed on a large poster board with a picture of Zonta International’s birthday cake.
Golden Z Club UAFS installs Zonta Says NO display
In collaboration with the Zonta Club of Fort Smith, District 10, members of the Golden Z Club UAFS set up a display on the campus of the University of Arkansas Fort Smith to recognize the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
The display, which will remain on campus through 10 December, is on a busy street so that more community members see it and community awareness increases.
Pictured are Brenda Rosales, Golden Z Club UAFS president, and member Jamie Fletcher.
Day 5
Each year, 12 million girls worldwide are married before they turn 18. While this number is slowly declining, progress is not happening fast enough as a girl becomes a bride every two seconds.
Child marriage prevents opportunities for girls to continue their education and affects not only their health, but their children’s health. This effect is felt over generations.
Did this fact surprise you? Test your knowledge on child marriage by taking the Zonta Says NO child marriage quiz here.
In the news: Zonta Club of Chatham-Kent marches to say NO to violence against women
For at least one Chatham-Kent family, fighting violence against women transcends generations.
Heidi Vidler, her daughter Sara Vidler and her grandchildren, Ravyn and Addison Doughty, marched on the Parry Bridge over the Thames River Friday as part of the Zonta Club of Chatham-Kent’s Say NO to Violence Against Women rally.
“I’ve been in the military for 28 years and this is the kind of stuff we fight against,” said Heidi Vidler. “I want my girls to know that it’s just as important for them when they grow up.”
The rally was against all types of violence and abuse against women across the world, including child brides, genital mutilation and sexual violence.
New York Zonta clubs work to bring awareness to violence against women
Zonta International members raise a flag to kick off its campaign against gender-based violence Sunday at Niagara Square. (John Hickey/Buffalo News)
Sunday marked the United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
At Niagara Square, the Zonta Club of Buffalo hosted a gathering to commemorate the occasion and launch its annual “16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence” leading to Human Rights Day.
The international organization, which was founded a stone’s throw away at the Statler Hotel in 1919, used the occasion to also mark its 100th anniversary next year by hosting a Centennial Flag. But the main focus was on the issue at hand.
“Advocacy is important, but it is not enough,” said Bonnie Clesse of Boston, N.Y., District 4 governor and member of Zonta Club of Hamburg-Orchard Park. “Action has to be taken to eliminate violence against women.”
In the news: Zonta Club of Dhaka IV brings awareness of child marriage to schoolgirls
Twenty underprivileged schoolgirls with the sewing machines they received from Zonta Club of Dhaka IV at Azampur Government Primary School. Photo: Prabir Das
Thirteen-year-old Bokul stopped going to school, feeling unsafe because of eve-teasing. Despite her mother’s protest, Bokul’s father and grandmother married her off forcibly.
At her in-laws’ house, Bokul found it hard to make everybody happy. She gave birth to a baby girl, making her life even more difficult. She now wants to return to school. But it is impossible!
This is the story of “Voice of Bokul,” a play performed by a troupe of underprivileged children from Protigga Foundation, at a program held at Azampur Government Primary School yesterday.
The Zonta Club of Dhaka IV, Bangladesh, organized the event as part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence and the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
Protigga Foundation is a partner of Zonta Club of Dhaka IV, which works for advancing the status of women.
A total of 20 underprivileged girls were given free sewing machines at the event, on completion of a three-month-long training program.
In the news: Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley creates awareness of domestic violence with red dress display
Seven red dresses hung outside of KHTS Radio on Tuesday as part of an annual “Red Dress Project” display honoring seven Santa Clarita women who were killed by domestic abuse.
“We’re glad to participate in the Red Dress Project event,” said KHTS Radio Owner Carl Goldman.“It’s a powerful way to send a critical message to our valley.”
Throughout the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the campaign is aimed toward bringing awareness to domestic violence in the community and is part of the annual Zonta says NO to Violence Against Women campaign.
“Yes, domestic violence is in Santa Clarita,” said Susan Hayward, a member of the Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley, USA. “The dresses are red because of the blood that was spilled during the time that they were abused.”
The project is put on by the city of Santa Clarita, along with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station, the Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley and the domestic violence program of the Child and Family Center.
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