The Zonta Club of Central Oklahoma and local partners gathered at the Oklahoma City Skydance Bridge on 30 November to show support of the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign during the 16 Days of Activism.
The color of the Skydance Bridge was changed to orange in support of the campaign. Pictures of the event were shared on social media to increase awareness.
The Zonta Club of Jamestown, ND enlisted men in the community to stand with women during the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women and the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaigns and challenged them to continue support beyond the 16 days.
The North Dakota club launched a program called “Stand With Us,” which was aimed at raising awareness of the importance of men intervening when they witness violence against women.
In partnership with the Jimmie Knight Society at the University of Jamestown, a table was set up for 16 days outside of the campus cafeteria. The Knights approached male students to discuss violence against women and focused much of the discussion specifically on the issue of violence against women on college campuses.
When they committed to intervening if they ever see a fellow student in danger of assault, the male students received a white ribbon.
Additionally, members of the Zonta club asked prominent male figures in the community to take a photo with a “Stand With Us” sign. The photos were then displayed at a local shopping mall.
Yard signs were also placed at the Zonta Park in Jamestown.
Members said the project was a simple way to spread the Zonta message and that by continuing to see people in the community wearing the white ribbons, they believe it was successful.
Zonta Club of Hamm/Unna in Germany supported the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women Campaign by illuminating local buildings orange during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.
Seven well-known public buildings located throughout the city of Unna were illuminated by an orange light on 25 November. Encouraged by the overwhelming response of the general public after last year’s activism, the Zonta Club of Hamm/Unna made a greater effort in this year’s campaign to convince local companies to participate.
During the event, Zontians distributed orange glow sticks to pedestrians and explained the campaign. Members said the solidarity displayed by the community was impressive.
The Zonta Club of Iserlohn Area, District 29, hosted a school project about violence against women and children during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.
The students presented a survey asking about places in the city women don’t feel comfortable in or where they have faced dangerous situations.
Club members said male students were very eager participants as well.
The club also encouraged people to write related poems for a poetry slam.
Cardboard cutouts of women showed community members the way to the poetry slam on 24 November. Many politicians, community leaders and interested citizens came to support the club and mission.
In support of the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign and during the 16 Days of Activism campaign, the Zonta Club of Hong Kong designated 9 December Service and Advocacy Day.
An event for the day was held at the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Lady MacLehose Centre and formed part of the club’s joint project with the centre, including the award-winning project “Action for Love and Community” and the “Love Yourself — Well-being Enhancement,” a women empowerment project for single-parent families. This project was created following the club’s survey on the wellness of low-income working women.
The event was well attended by over 100 participants including fellow Zontains wearing orange, beneficiaries sharing their experience, as well as social workers sharing the work they have undertaken in terms of raising awareness of violence against women.
The Zonta Club of Hong Kong is planning to host one or two new projects with the centre next year.
The INNHS Z Club and Zonta Club of Ilocos Norte in the Philippines held a series of activities during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence and Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women.
Along with the City Government of Laoag and the Local Council of Women, the groups formally opened the campaign with a walk, self-defense training event and a poster slogan contest.
More than 1,000 women participated in the various activities, which were designed to raise awareness of violence against women and to provide an opportunity to talk about solutions to ending the problem.
The Z Club and Zonta Club also worked with the Philippine National Police and other local organizations to host a series of events for the young girls in the INNHS Z Club.
During one event, the issue of bullying was raised. Zontian Shey Abaya spoke about bullying during a speech to the group. The talk was followed by a self-defense training provided by 25 members of the Women and Children Protection Desk of the Philippine National Police.
Approximately 1,000 young girls from grades 7-12 participated.
Other activities included appointments of new officers and induction of new members of INNHS Z Club and the distribution of whistles for all the young girls.
On the final day of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign and as part of the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign, the Zonta Club of Saint Sofia, District 30, decorated a retro tram in orange balloons and Zonta Says NO banners and drove it around the streets of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria.
The club paired with other local organizations and at each stop handed out orange balloons and pamphlets with information about ending violence against women.
Local news media covered the event.
Over the next few months, the Zonta Club of Albury-Wodonga Inc. will distribute posters and pamphlets detailing anti-violence messages and support information to businesses in the area.
The club received a grant from the Border Trust Big Give and was able to design and print 1000 posters.
Read more here.
Zonta clubs across the world participated in advocacy and awareness efforts from 25 November to 10 December as part of the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women and 16 Days of Activism Against Gendered-Violence campaigns.
Watch select highlights here and read stories from other clubs at www.zontasaysno.com/zontiansinaction/
Read a recap of the 16 Days of Activism campaign from the President’s Corner Blog: http://ow.ly/kfL930hcMRe
Photo from The Courier
Two dozen people—including a couple of men—turned out for the Community Glow Walk to End the Silence, hosted by the Zonta Club of Findlay, USA, District 5.
The club has participated in the downtown walk every year since 2012. Club Advocacy chairwoman Karen Flanagan said in years past, the event has been a “silent walk,” with participants symbolically placing orange tape across their mouths to indicate domestic violence and human trafficking victims’ lack of a voice.
This year, though, in light of women across the country speaking out against sexual harassment, the club opted to “be the voice, as opposed to being silent,” Flanagan said.
Click here to read the full story from The Courier.
