On 23 November, the Zonta Club of Baden-Baden cooperated with their local youth forum, a sort of local parliament for young people in Baden-Baden. The campaign took place in the pedestrian zone of Baden-Baden. With no indication for the aim of the campaign, the group arranged 99 pairs of women’s orange shoes around a display showing an orange line growing for three minutes and ending in a loud woman´s cry and a picture “say no –sag nein”.

This intrigued many pedestrians, who asked clubs members “what do we say no to” or “why are there so many orange shoes”. This reaction sparked a conversation, which gave the opportunity to hand out information. The members were then able to explain that the shoes were symbols for the 99 women murdered in Germany in 2012, and that every three minutes in Germany a woman is raped.

Members said that they were really overwhelmed by the interest the people showed in this difficult subject. During the time from 1100 – 1700 the club had more than 500 conversations and discussions with women and men of all age groups, girls and boys and in different languages.

The members also say they were very proud of the girls and boys from the group they partnered with, who did not hesitate to talk to the people. They report feeling very grateful for this experience and the knowledge that so many women and men took their time on a cold Saturday afternoon to discuss and think and give their opinion on the subject of saying no to violence against women.

The club also showcased a banner that had the Zonta logo the words “Say no –Sag nein”. Members wore black t-shirts with the orange imprint “Say No –Sag Nein”.

For more information on Baden-Baden’s campaign, visit their website: http://www.zonta-baden-baden.de/navigation.htm (German)

(Photo: Heli Kurimo)

Zonta Club of Lohja Area, Finland (District 20) said NO to violence against women by floodlighting the Tytyri mining tower with orange color on 25 November. The 70-metre high tower of the Tytyri Mine is located in the centre of Lohja and is a central landmark that can be seen far in the surrounding city and residential areas.

The lighting of the tower was carried out in co-operation with Nordkalk Corporation, the owner of the limestone mine. The walls of the tower glowed orange for 24 hours.

On Nov 24th Zonta Club Bad Soden-Kronberg stood up in their local town with the Lord Major, local citizens, friends and family to say NO to violence against women.

By planting a larch tree in the town’s local park with a sign to mark the International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women, they established a symbol of hope that one day violence against women will no longer be a mass problem.

A local citizen and long-term supporter of Zonta said “It’s about time we had a Zonta tree in Bad Soden! It will serve to remind all passers-by of this ongoing problem in our community and across the world”.

After the tree-planting, a film called “Festung” (Fortress) was shown in the local cinema that portrayed a normal middle-class German family suffering under a violent husband and father. Everyone in the cinema was deeply moved by this intelligent and sensitive film (written, produced, and directed by women), which showed clearly the long-term negative effects of violence on a family and in particular the children.

In addition to the numerous articles as well as two adverts in the local press Zonta Club Bad Soden-Kronberg was able to donate € 1.000 for a local charity that provides support and help to violent men with the objective of preventing violence in the home. By learning how to change their behavior and better deal with their problems and emotions, violent men can overcome their problems and find a way to be a better father and husband…which is ultimately what the wives and children want the most.

From The Garden Island:

Dennis Fujimoto/The Garden Island
Laura and Terry Peters, seated in front, get a photo with Zonta Club of Kauai and Hanalei for the Zonta International Facebook page, Monday during the launch of Zonta Says No to Violence Against Women at the Kukui Grove Center. Shown are Marlene Greer, Savita Agarwal, Marge Akana, Darrellyn Lemke, Dimples Kano, Patricia Posner, Laura Peters, Edie Ignacio Neumiller, Terry Peters, Carla Kaser and Katie Beer.

LIHUE — Members of the Zonta Club of Kauai and the Zonta Club of Hanalei collectively said “No” Monday at the Kukui Grove Center.

Darrellyn Lemke, president of the Zonta Club of Kauai, said they actually got a head-start on the Zonta Says No campaign when they hosted a table at the YWCA of Kauai Pink Sunday women’s expo on Sunday.

“Monday, Zonta Clubs from more than 30 countries around the world will start 16 days of Activism Against Gender Violence,” Lemke said. “On Kauai, we’re joining the other Zonta clubs in spreading awareness.”

During the day-long appearance at the mall adjacent to Pictures Plus and the Regis hair salon, the Kauai Zonta members were thrilled to be visited by Terry and Laura Peters.

Laura is the past Zonta District 9 Governor and a present Zonta International Director.

During the gathering, shoes representing women who were killed as a result of domestic violence were stacked at the base of the table, which housed a collection jar as well as tickets for the upcoming Eat Dessert First fundraiser.

Edie Ignacio-Neumiller, past president of the Zonta Club of Kauai, said the Zonta Club of Kauai will continue its message from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 29 at the Kukui Grove Center.

“We’re just doing what we can,” said Katie Beer of the Zonta Club of Kauai.

Lynn McKenzie, president of Zonta International, said violence against women and girls is still pervasive in all kinds of countries and societies.

The first Zonta International Strategies to end Violence Against Women was administered in 1996. By 2000, Zonta International, through its ZISVAW program, has provided more than $3.5 million to support anti-violence projects in 32 countries.

http://thegardenisland.com/news/local/kauai-s-zonta-clubs-join-global-no/article_4eab4262-572a-11e3-9156-001a4bcf887a.html?mode=story

On Nov. 25,2013, The Zonta Club of Fort Bonifacio beamed the Zonta says No to Violence Against Women in the giant LED screen in SM Megamall along Edsa which is the busiest highway in Metro Manila.

The members in orange walked around the mega mall and distributed leaflets on R.A. 9262 the law that protects women and children. This created awareness and visibility and will lead to action in stopping violence against women.

A District 29, Area 03 action for the Zonta says NO campaign aims to escalate discussion about Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) on an unprecedented scale by showing an award-winning film in universities across the UK, followed by a Q & A session, as a first step to stimulating conversation in the wider community about this sensitive subject.

In partnership with maternal health charity SafeHands for Mothers the club is pleased to show “The Cutting Tradition”, an award-winning documentary narrated by Meryl Streep that examines the complex reasons behind the continuing practice of FGM. The documentary was produced and co-directed by Nancy Durrell McKenna (below), a member of Zonta Club London II and Founder Director of registered charity SafeHands for Mothers.

SafeHands’ vision is a world where no woman dies in pregnancy or childbirth. They work to achieve this by producing films to educate, inform, and inspire change.  They also work in remote areas to promote access to good maternal health care so that any complications, including those caused by FGM, can be addressed.

FGM affects over 60,000 women in the UK and millions worldwide. It is estimated that as many as 20,000 girls in the UK are today at risk. The UK Government has recognised the practice as a violation of human rights and has recently announced a £35 million programme aiming to end FGM within one generation.

Screening dates and locations so far:

Mansfield College Oxford
25th Nov

University of Surrey
25th Nov

University of Hull
26th Nov

St Johns College Cambridge
4th December 7.15pm
(ladies only)
Palmeston Room, Fischer Building, St John’s College

Royal Holloway University
5th December 5.15pm
Lecture Theatre, The Management Building, TW20 0EX

The University of South Wales
9th December
Details tbc.

The film will be followed by a discussion session.
Entrance is free.

The Zonta Club of Kitchener-Waterloo wanted to mark the 16 days in a way that might resonate with the community. Sixteen members of the Club are hoping to make a difference by speaking out on an aspect of violence against women and children that is particularly meaningful to them.

Make a sound that will be heard around the world: Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women and Girls.

“We say no because violence against women is a cowardly demeaning and criminal act.The determination to end violence against women is in our hands and our hearts. We have the power to end violence against women and girls!!!!!”#ZontaSaysNO”

From the Illawarra Mercury newspaper: