The former club President and current club president of the Zonta Club of Stara Zagora, Bulgaria, were guests on a local television talk show called “Social Diagnosis”. The show was dedicated to the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women Campaign. The producer of the show showed his support by wearing a Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women shirt and verbally pledging his support for ending violence against women.The broadcast was watched from more than 3,000 people.

Background of Topic:

The UN General Assembly proclaimed 10 December as Human Rights Day in 1950, to bring to the attention ‘of the peoples of the world’ the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations.

Ideas for the Day:

• Share your personal and club highlights from the past 16 days on the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women Facebook page, using hashtags #ZontaSaysNO and #16Days.
• Host a Zonta club meeting and discuss gender inequality and violation of the human rights of women as a root cause of violence against women, and how the post-2015 development agenda can further efforts to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls.
• Collaborate with other organizations like Zonta that work on issues regarding women worldwide. Offer workshops and seminars together.
• Follow @UNrightswire on Twitter to learn more about women’s human rights.

Hashtag: #ZontaSaysNo #16Days

Images/Videos to Share:

• Video: A wrap-up of the 16 Days and Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women Campaign. The video will be posted on the Zonta Says NO Facebook page.

Members of the Zonta Club of Kitchener – Waterloo spoke to their news station, CTV Kitchener about their video campaign and that both men and women are needed to take action as part of their activities for the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign.

Watch the video clip here: http://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=508324

Members of the Zonta Club of Ipswich Inc arranged to have this “Orange Lady” stand in the front windows of a salon, swimming pool, and community center to bring attention to the issue of violence against women.

The Zonta Club of Toledo I sponsored several silhouettes, remembering victims of domestic violence, that are used throughout their community for demonstrations, etc.

At a club meeting, they presented information about the 16 Days of Activism and the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign projects, and brought the silhouettes, remembered them, and then gathered together to present a united front against violence.

The Northwest Ohio Silent Witness Project is housed and maintained by the Women’s Center of Bowling Green State University.

On 5 December, representatives of District 30, Area 05 of Zonta International met with the President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria on the occasion of the “16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women” campaign. Ms. Tsetska Tsatcheva was presented with the Declaration from the Geneva Forum and the recommendations for action on the Beijing+20 Platform. The representatives discussed the opportunities for Zonta clubs to start the process of signing and ratification of the Istanbul Convention, as well as further participation on a national level in discussing the problems of women.

The President of the National Assembly of Bulgaria received the orange ribbon, symbolizing the “Zonta says NO to Violence Against Women” campaign from the Area 05 Director D-r Venelina Mileva. The Chairman of the Parliament promised she would wear the ribbon until 10 December while presiding the parliamentary sessions.

Ms. Tsatcheva already received the text of the Istanbul Convention and has started the process of discussions and negotiations, in order for Bulgaria, a Council of Europe member country, to ratify it.

The District 30, Area 05 representatives included: Director D-r Venelina Mileva,Vladimira Tracheva, Advocacy Committe Chair D 30,  Maria Stefanova past ZI Director 2012-2014, Diana Ivanova, President ZC Burgas, Miglena Avramova, President ZC Varna, Ivanka Mihaylova, President ZC Stara Zagora.

Background of Topic:

What is the Voices Against Violence Project?
During the 2014-2016 Biennium, Zonta International is partnering with UN Women to support Voices against Violence: a non-formal education curriculum for the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts on ending violence against women and girls.

With 10 million Girl Guides and Girl Scouts from 145 countries across the world, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) is the largest voluntary movement dedicated to girls and young women in the world and can be found in many of the 67 countries where Zonta International has clubs. The Zonta International project will run in the following 12 countries: Japan, Korea, Philippines, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso, Rwanda, Nigeria, Malawi, Zambia, Canada, USA, and Brazil.

Ideas for the Day:

• Meet with club members to read through the Voices Against Violence Guidelines for Zonta District and Club Participation. Create an action plan!
• Donate to the ZISVAW Fund.

Hashtag: #ZontaSaysNO #16Days  #Lead4Girls

Images to Share:
Find the below image here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/unwomen/10188384396/in/set-72157636391875033

Background of Topic:

Women leaders in communities, businesses and governments contribute to more stable and just societies, economic growth, quality of life for families and communities, and the achievement of internationally-agreed goals for sustainable development. (World Economic Forum, 2012).

Despite increased acknowledgement of the added benefits of women in leadership, according to UN Global Impact, there continues to be a disproportion between women and men in decision-making roles in both the public and private sectors due to the perpetuation of gender stereotypes.

Ideas for the Day:

• Send letters to female leaders in your community urging them to take a stand against violence against women and girls.
• Enlist women leaders to share messages about ending violence against women and girls via social media using the hashtags #ZontaSaysNO and #16Days
• Call on women leaders in your community to raise awareness of violence against women and girls and the need for immediate action.
• Learn about Quentin Bryce, International Honorary Member of Zonta International and head of Australian Government’s new domestic violence task.
• Invite women parliamentarians and community leaders to issue video messages wearing orange, stating their support for efforts to end violence against women and girls
• Write an opinion piece and send to your local newspaper reinforcing the need to prioritize the issue.

Hashtag: #ZontaSaysNO #16Days

Images and Videos to Share:

• Quentin Bryce, International Honorary Member of Zonta International and head of the Australian Government’s new domestic violence task, shares her thoughts about combatting domestic violence.
• Beijing+20 and Women in Decision-Making: Time to Shatter the Glass Ceiling https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-r-joRhNBo

Background of Topic:

“Throughout the world, one in three women will experience violence, such as beating, rape, or assault, in their lifetime.”  This figure was first reported by UNIFEM (now UN Women) a decade ago [in 2003]. Its validity has since been reinforced/confirmed. Sexually violent acts can take place in different circumstances and settings, including rape (within marriage and relationships, by strangers and during armed conflict), unwanted sexual advances or sexual harassment, sexual abuse of children, and forced married or cohabitation.

Ideas for the Day:

• Share the image below

Hashtag: #ZontaSaysNo #16Days

Images to Share:

• Find this infographic here: http://beijing20.unwomen.org/en/infographic/evaw