Zonta Club of Parker County advocates for women and girls through awareness and legislative action

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On 9 December, the Zonta Club of Parker County, USA, displayed 138 pairs of shoes at the Parker County Courthouse in Texas, symbolizing female victims of domestic violence in 2023. Club members, including three new members and representatives from Freedom House, collaborated on the impactful visual display, which drew the attention of passersby and courthouse visitors.

The event featured photos with the County Judge, commissioners, and the District Attorney, followed by a presentation about the 16 Days of Activism and Zonta’s local and international initiatives. The County Judge expressed interest in further collaboration and requested a future meeting to discuss Zonta’s projects in detail.

New member Belinda Dickard reflected, “”I felt this was a great event to bring awareness to our community. It prompted the community to inquire about what the shoes represented. The Commissioner’s Court really embraced what Zonta does and how we advocate for Women and Girls around the World.”

Tanya Hodges, Area 1 Director for District 10, emphasized, “Our club was thankful to be recognized by our County Judge and Commissioners on our efforts during our 16 Days of Activism by placing 138 pairs of shoes on our Courthouse steps which represents the number of domestic violence cases filed in Parker County during the 2023 calendar year. We are bringing awareness to our community regarding the Say NO to Violence Against Women and Girls Campaign.”

Freedom House, Zonta’s service partner, praised the collaboration, saying the event was a valuable opportunity to bring attention to the issue and advocate for victims.

In a separate advocacy event, the club’s Advocacy Committee held a virtual meeting with Texas State Senator Phil King’s office to discuss the Ending Childhood Marriage project. Zonta District 10 Governor Shelly Baumgartner joined the discussion with Beth Shields, Senator King’s Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director.

The conversation focused on updating Texas laws, which currently allow girls as young as 14 to marry with parental consent. Advocacy leaders explained that such consent often arises from coercion, resulting in negative outcomes for the girls involved. By taking this initiative, the club made a meaningful impact by raising awareness with Senator King’s office.

Zonta Club Kathmandu concludes the 16 Days of Activism with UNITE campaign

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The Zonta Club of Kathmandu, Nepal, in partnership with Ncell Foundation and Saathi, hosted the grand closing of the 16 Days of Activism UNITE Campaign against Gender-Based Violence, spotlighting youth engagement.

The event featured a panel discussion titled “Addressing the Interconnected Challenges of Gender Inequality, Climate Change, and Violence Against Women” with distinguished speakers, including Deputy Mayor of Lalitpur Metropolitan City Ms. Manjali Shakya Bajracharya and Assistant General of Police Ms. Phul Kumari Paudel. Representatives from Ncell Foundation, Saathi and global organizations such as UNICEF, UNFPA, and UNESCO also participated.

Moderated by Ms. Soni Joshi, Chair of Zonta International District 25 Committee, the panel included experts who shared innovative solutions to gender inequality and climate change, engaging attendees in a dynamic Q&A. Club president Ms. Bina Rana emphasized the urgency of collective action against gender-based violence and child marriage.

Zonta Club of Ratchaburi launches unique initiative for Zonta Says NO

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The Zonta Club of Ratchaburi, Thailand, participated in Zonta Says NO to reduce and eliminate violence against women and children. During the 16 Days of Activism, the initiative features symbolism using white ribbons and teddy bear imagery, representing a commitment to rejecting violence and breaking the silence.

As part of the campaign, participants created artwork featuring the “Teddy Bear Say NO” symbol to raise awareness. Additionally, educational sessions provided knowledge on ending violence and practical self-defense skills to help individuals respond effectively during crises.

March against gender-based violence: Burbank stands united

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On 7 December, the Zonta Club of Burbank Area, CA, USA, hosted a March Against Gender-Based Violence as part of the 16 Days of Activism. Starting at Burbank City Hall, this impactful event raised awareness about violence against women and girls and inspired community action. Participants marched in solidarity, wearing orange to symbolize the global fight against gender-based violence, and gathered for a rally featuring speakers, survivor stories and advocacy resources. Joining the club for the march were Burbank Vice Mayor Nikki Perez and Burbank City Councilmembers Konstantine Anthony and Tamala Takahashi.

The Burbank City Council recently proclaimed 25 November-10 December as the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, an observance promoted by the club. As part of the proclamation, Burbank City Hall was lit with orange lights.

The rights of domestic abuse victims and the way forward

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As part of the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign, the Zonta Club of Hong Kong II, Hong Kong, partnered with the Hong Kong Federation of Women’s Centres to host a speaker event. The event focused on the rights of domestic abuse victims and explored the way forward in addressing this critical issue.

The panel featured a diverse group of experts, including a representative from the Family Conflict and Sexual Violence Policy Unit of the Hong Kong Police Department, a barrister specializing in matrimonial matters, an educational psychologist, an experienced social worker and a hotline volunteer. Each shared insights from their fields, culminating in an engaging Q&A session with the audience.

Approximately 60 participants attended, representing a broad cross-section of the community. The audience included Zonta members, local women, representatives from other NGOs, social workers, teachers and students, all of whom contributed to the dynamic and interactive discussion.

Zonta Club of Berlin hosts lecture and discussion on new German law against child marriage

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Dr. Monique Martinek delivered a lecture on the legal implications of the new German law regarding underage individuals, a topic she focused on for her Ph.D. She highlighted how the number of underage marriages in Germany has risen dramatically since the so-called refugee crisis, making it a pressing issue to address.

The lecture and subsequent networking session were well-received by the audience and helped strengthen the brand of Zonta Club of Berlin, Germany. The event was hosted at the scenic Kreuzberger Kinderstiftung, which generously provided the venue free of charge.

Zonta Club of Dhaka III gives voice to Z club and youth members

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During the 16 Days of Activism, the Z club and youth team of Zonta Club Dhaka III, Bangladesh, organized a debate on the elimination of child marriage and the Zonta Says NO campaign. Each participant received a certificate and a token of appreciation for their outstanding presentations.

The event was attended by notable guests, including Fahmida Kareem, Past Governor of Zonta District 25, Nusrat Huq, Past President of Zonta Club III, Nasrin Khan Anni, Z Club and Youth District Chair for District 25, Rubina Qadir Hussain, Club President, Sabrina Siddique, Vice President and members of the Z Club and Youth Team of Zonta Club of Dhaka III.

In the news: Zonta’s webinar on gender based violence

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The Zonta Club of Nassau recently hosted a webinar to address gender-based violence in The Bahamas shortly after the tragic rape and murder of 12-year-old Adriel Moxey and 72-year-old Vernencha Butler which took place days apart in the capital New Providence.
The country was left in a state of shock, anger and sorrow, wondering when there will be greater protections for the nation’s women and children. President of the Zonta Club of Nassau Michelle Forbes explained the importance
of bringing awareness to violence against women and children. “We will be learning more about violence, how to have healthy relationships, how to be better persons and how we can overcome trials together. Zonta International launched the “No to Violence” Campaign in 2012 and what we are doing now is raising more awareness through advocacy and education.” Former Police Officer and now CEO of Elle Clarke Media Group, Lynelle Clark spoke to victims by sharing her story of sexual assault. “After forgiving yourself and the assailants, speak your truth. I didn’t have anyone that could relate to me when I was raped. I was a police officer, a detective, I investigated rape and now I found myself on the other side of that table. Now I was being interviewed, now I was the victim, no one was able to talk to me because no one had walked through the complexity of my circumstance.” She continued, “I promised God that when I was healed from this, I would use my voice to share my story because I wanted to become for others what I did not have for myself. Your story isn’t just for you. You can move from trauma to victory. Reclaim your identity.”
The Webinar also featured several panelists including, Antoinette Brown the author of “Raped… A Survivor’s Compelling Story”, woman police constable Patrel Hutcheson, administrator and advisor at the Bahamas Crisis Centre
Cleopatra Christie, counselor at the University of the Bahamas Arnold Martin, and assistant professor of psychology at the University of the Bahamas Dr. Detra Bethell.

http://jonesbahamas.com/zontas-webinar-on-gender-based-violence/

Zonta Clubs of France host screening for 16 Days of Activism

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On 25 November, the Zonta Clubs of France held a presentation of the film Primadonna, which explores restorative marriages in 1950s and 1960s Sicily.

*This story was translated into English by Google Translate.

Zonta Club of Jyväskylä lights the city orange

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The Zonta Club of Jyväskylä, Finland, partnered with local organizations to promote advocacy during the Zonta Says NO campaign. Key city landmarks, including Hospital Nova and Congress Centre Paviljonki, were illuminated in orange. On 25 November, the club hosted an event at the Nero steps, featuring a speech by the president of UN Women Jyväskylä, a performance by the Kipinät choir and refreshments. Attendees dressed in orange and lit the steps with candles to raise awareness for gender equality.