The Zonta Club’s 16 Days of Activism is back, check out ‘Zoey’ at participating businesses

BREVARD COUNTY — Zontians around the world will be joining an effort to raise awareness for envisioning a world without violence in the coming days.

Around Brevard County, participating businesses will help spread the word by hosting “Zoey,” a cardboard cutout that offers information about the Zonta Club of Melbourne’s involvement in the endeavor to end violence.

Participating businesses so far include Courtyard be Marriott West, Meehan’s, Yellow Dog Café, Adsado at Grand Manor, The Burger Place, Coiffures International Salon, West Melbourne Library, and El Chico.

The 16 Days of Activism for “Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women” kicks off on Nov. 25, which is International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and runs through to Dec. 10, which is known as Human Rights Day.

In recent years, the local Zonta chapter has invited businesses to light their storefronts with an orange light, but this year, are doing something different.

“Nov. 25 is also known as ‘Orange Day’ by the United Nations, and the color was purposefully chosen, which is why you see us with a lot of orange on,” said Cathy Greene, Zonta Club of Melbourne president. “It’s a bright color that attracts attention. The campaign is about bringing (domestic violence) to the forefront. It’s silent, people don’t talk about it a whole lot.”

According to Zonta International’s website, intimate partner violence against women is one of the most common forms of violence. At least 34% of female homicide victims in 2017 were killed by a former or current intimate partner.

Cyber violence is yet another form of abuse women and girls face on a daily basis, too. Zonta International has gathered research that found women aged 18-24 are at a heightened risk of cyber violence, and 73% of women are abused online.

“Our goal is to raise awareness that (violence against women) exists,” said Doris Larson, Zonta Club of Melbourne member. “We started maybe 10 years ago trying to make people aware that human trafficking is in Brevard County. Everyone said we were crazy, but we finally convinced everybody that there is, and the police are on the watch. It takes time to raise awareness.”

Besides raising awareness, the local Zonta chapter advocates for women who have faced such violence in their lives.

Some of the club’s victories includes helping to pass several laws regarding getting women out of abusive relationships. If strangulation can be documented, for example, a woman doesn’t have to testify against her abuser.

Educational efforts have ranged from reaching out to the police force to high schools. Yet, the Zonta Club of Melbourne’s biggest fundraiser – the Chocolate Festival – is perhaps best known for how they speak out against violence and at the same time, shed light on fair-trade chocolate products.

The Zonta Club of Melbourne supports domestic violence shelters and is involved with several other nonprofits that help women in these difficult situations.

If you own a business that would like to participate in hosting “Zoey” the cardboard cutout, you can contact Doris Larson at 321- 505-9579.

https://www.hometownnewsbrevard.com/news/local/brevard_county/campaign-to-spark-domestic-violence-awareness/article_ed0792ba-bb6b-5fa9-ad51-082a5038935d.html

OSWEGO – Globally, one in three women experience physical or sexual violence mostly by an intimate partner. Violence against women and girls is one of the most pervasive human rights violations. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, evidence has shown that all types of gender-based violence, particularly domestic violence, has escalated.

In Oswego County alone, there were 244 female victim and 74 male victim reports of intimate partner domestic violence in 2020, according to NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services Uniform Reporting System (as of 6/14/21).  Enough is enough. Women cannot, and should not have to, fight for safety from violence. We need to unite communities in the global appeal to all governments to end violence against women once and for all.

The Zonta Club of Oswego – a member of Zonta International, a leading global organization of more than 26,000 members worldwide dedicated to building a better world for women and girls, is participating in 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. Initiated in 1991 by the Women’s Global Leadership Institute, this annual global campaign begins on November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) and ends on December 10 (International Human Rights Day). The campaign is aimed at raising awareness about gender-based violence (GBV) and promoting actions to prevent and eliminate it.

The Zonta Club of Oswego urges you to make positive changes in our community. Some suggestions are:

• Participate in the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign from November 25 through December 10 – follow Zonta Club of Oswego on Facebook and Instagram to learn more or check out zontasaysno.com
• Join a book club discussion of No Visible Bruises: What we don’t know about domestic violence can kill us by Rachel Louise Snyder at 7 p.m. Wednesday, December 11 at Rivers End Bookstore.  OCO, Inc. Services to Aid Families will co-facilitate the discussion and share information & resources in our local community. Learn more about the book here!
• Support and donate to local organizations such as Oswego County Opportunities, Inc. Services to Aid Families
• Donate to Zonta International’s International Service Program at https://www.zonta.org/
• Educate yourself and others. Read more about how child marriage is a violation of human rights from the child marriage data report from UNICEF at https://data.unicef.org/topic/child-protection/child-marriage/
• “Orange the World” with us and shine a light on gender-based violence by placing an orange light on your front porch or place of business now through December 10.

If you take a walk along the Riverwalk in Oswego, Mayor Robert A. Corradino and the City of the City have turned the lights orange on the bridge and the waterfall as a stand against gender-based violence. Pathfinder Bank has also gone orange in support! You will see a number of “orange ladies” throughout the community in support of the campaign with additional information and resources. Community members are encouraged to take photos with the orange ladies on social media, tag @ZontaClubofOswego.

Zonta International is a leading global organization of professionals empowering women worldwide through service and advocacy. More than 27,000 women and men in 1,133 Zonta clubs in 64 countries work together to make gender equality a worldwide reality for women and girls. Since 1923, Zonta International has provided more than US$51 million to build a better world for women and girls by expanding their access to education, health care, economic opportunities and safe living conditions. Learn more at zonta.org!

Violence against women is a complex issue and is perpetrated in many ways. We cannot solve this issue alone, so please join us in saying NO.

16 Days of Activism — Zonta of Oswego Says No to Domestic Violence

Women united in a rally against deadly “honour-based abuse” following an alarming rise in the number of reported victims. Merseyside-based charity Savera UK, which helps survivors of harmful practices such as forced marriage, female genital mutilation and conversion therapy, has seen an increase of almost 36% in new referrals to its service.

Joined by Zonta International, a charity opposing child marriage and gender-based violence, campaigners marched through Williamson Square today, November 23, with placards reading “End forced marriage”, “End virginity testing”, and “End HBA”. Another demonstration will take place at Lime Street Station on Monday for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

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Today’s event was led by the drums of Katumba and the Wavertree Community Gospel Choir. Concluding at the Museum of Liverpool, speeches were given by Savera UK CEO Afrah Qassim, Diane Jeans of Zonta UK, and Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell.

Charity CEO speaks on dangers of honour-based abuse

Savera UK CEO and Founder Afrah Qassim said: “While a national decrease in reports of HBA offences appears positive, for us as a frontline grassroots organisation, the latest data is deeply concerning, and there has never been a greater need for us to work to raise awareness.“What is being reported by police contradicts what we are seeing on the ground, which is actually increasing referrals for HBA and harmful practices such as FGM and forced marriage. HBA remains a local issue that happens here and can affect anyone.

Victims may be too scared to come forward

“We believe that the decrease may be indicative of challenges such as fear or reluctance to report HBA offences to police out of fear for reprisal or consequences; the fear of not being believed or the issues not being understood, or the high risk of harm that is characteristic of HBA and harmful practices not being recognised.”

Woman suffered painful FGM procedure when she was 10

One mum, Khatra Paterson, shared her story with the ECHO ahead of the march. The 55-year-old was just 10 when her parents sent her to Djibouti, on the Horn of Africa, to undergo female genital mutilation. She said: “I was scared and didn’t know what was going on, so I tried to fight, but they restrained me.”Then I felt a blinding pain in my privates. I didn’t know what they were doing. I screamed for my mum, and one of the women said to me, ‘This is what your mother wanted.'”

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/gallery/women-march-protest-harmful-practice-30437421

For the next 16 days, you may notice a different type of yard signs in various places throughout the Corry area.

Those signs say “Zonta Says No to Violence Against Women.” They are being displayed by members of the Zonta Club of the Corry Area from Nov. 25 to Dec. 10. During this time, known as 16 Days of Activism, Zonta clubs worldwide focus on ending gender-based violence in all its forms.

As members of Zonta International, the Zonta Club of the Corry Area works year-round to support Zonta’s mission of “building a better world for women and girls.” Zonta International is a leading global organization of individuals working together to build a better world for women and girls.

The main goal of Zonta’s advocacy is eliminating gender-based violence against women. That advocacy includes observing 16 Days of Activism, which focuses on psychological, physical and sexual violence; and harmful practices such as rape, child marriage and human trafficking. 

The campaign’s goal is to get more people to speak up and act rather than look away. Through a multitude of events, projects and advocacy efforts, Zonta clubs and members around the world are dedicated to ending gender-based violence.

Connie Cooper is the president of the Zonta Club of the Corry Area. She said the club has set a goal to raise awareness of, and take action to prevent, gender-based violence during 16 Days of Activism.

“Follow our Facebook page for daily messages highlighting the issues surrounding and actions you can take toward ending violence against women and girls. Please ‘like’ and ‘share’ every day to spread the message.”

You can view the page, join the campaign to end violence against women, and share the messages by going to Facebook.com/Zonta Club of Corry.

On Nov. 8, Zonta International celebrated its 105th anniversary. For Zonta’s 100^th anniversary in 2019, the Corry Zonta club purchased a yellow banner with the theme “Zonta Says No to Violence Against Women.” For a few weeks each fall, the banner is displayed across North Center Street to spread the word to the Corry community about Zonta’s mission.

But the Corry Zonta club does so much more. Zonta International’s ongoing service efforts are demonstrated through numerous local projects and programs and through partnerships with the United Nations and its agencies.

Zonta International President Salla Tuominen said Zonta envisions a world where no woman must live in fear of violence.

“We are ambitious, yet grounded in the realities of the world we inhabit. We are at the pivotal moment where gender-based violence remains a stark and painful reality and child marriage statistics have taken steps backward due to the unstable post-pandemic world,” Tuominen said, “Our voices and actions through the Zonta Says No to Violence Against Women campaign will build not just a better world for women and girls, but a better world for all.”

Cooper said, locally, the Zonta Club of Corry supports the efforts of Safe Journey –a shelter for women and children who are victims of domestic abuse, and its affiliate, Purple One – both financially and with service projects.

“Specifically, during 16 Days of Activism, the members of the Zonta Club of Corry donate Christmas gift bags filled with essential items to be given to women and children in shelters who are fleeing domestic violence with the hope of bringing a little joy to their world during the holidays,” Cooper said.

In the past, the Corry Zonta club had a program specialist at Safe Journey speak about Purple One, a bystander intervention program where victims can seek help from trained individuals. They also have heard from Erie County Assistant District Attorney Rob Ferguson and Public Defender Nicole Sloane Kondrlik regarding domestic violence programs and services in Erie County.

Also, Erie County District Attorney Elizabeth Hirz has spoken about the widespread challenges facing women and girls in Erie County and practices put into place to help them. 

The Corry Zonta club also volunteers to help with Shower the Shelter, when members ask the community to donate essential items to Safe Journey for victims of domestic abuse.

The Corry club is a member of District 4, Area 5. District 4 includes 30 clubs with 620 members from western Ontario, Canada, to western New York and Pennsylvania states.District 4 was home to the first Zonta club, established in Buffalo, N.Y., in 1919.

Jane Newman, of Ontario, is the District 4 governor. She said this campaign brings 64 countries, 1,093 clubs and 26,188 members together to say no to violence against women. 

Violence against women and girls threatens countries, inhibits economic progress, and prevents women from contributing to their community and creating better lives for themselves and their families, according to Zonta International.

Cooper said the Zonta Club of Corry is more than willing to join in the effort to halt violence against women and girls. 

“I am proud of the women in our local club who selflessly give and advocate so others can have a better life,” Cooper said. “The need is great in our local community, and we are here to help in any way we can.”

In addition to Cooper, officers of the Corry club are Marie Zamiska, vice president; Reva Lowry, treasurer; Maryann Mook, secretary; and board members Barb Chase and Vickie Stull. 

Service project is led by Zonta Club of Midland, Nov. 25 – Dec. 10

Midland storefronts will soon display “orange lady dolls” as part of the Zonta Club of Midland’s campaign to end gender-based violence.

According to the club, these orange dolls, named Julie, exist to raise awareness for Zonta International’s service project, Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women. The service project was adopted from the United Nation’s 16 Days of Activism campaign to unite towards a common cause of ending gender-based violence.

Zonta Club states that Julie was a 23-year-old female who was riding her bike to a friend’s house in Belgium when she was attacked. She attempted to fight off her offender, but her tiny frame was no match for her attacker. Her attacker slipped through the cracks of the justice system.

Through her death, Julie’s family is making changes in Belgium’s judicial system in her memory, so this does not happen to other women. Julie’s aunt happens to be a member of the Zonta Club of Midland and advocates for women to protect themselves and men to stand up and pledge to say no to violence against women.

One of Zonta’s missions is that no woman shall live in fear of violence. According to a recent release from the club, one in three women will experience gender-based violence in their lifetime.

During the 16 Days of Activism, which runs Nov. 25 through Dec. 10, organizations and Zonta Clubs throughout the world raise awareness about this issue and challenge people to stand up to saying “no” to violence against women.

“Orange is the color of the campaign, and the dolls represent the women in our community that have fallen victim to violence,” Zonta Club of Midland stated. “You can help us take a stand and say no to violence against women by taking a selfie with the dolls, posting on Facebook your selfie and how you will stand up to violence against women, and tag Zonta Club of Midland.”

For more information about Zonta Club, visit ZontaClubOfMidland.org.

https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/zonta-club-unveils-orange-lady-dolls-combat-19936659.php

Lyndell Farmer

The newly formed Zonta Club of Kiama-Shellharbour welcomed the community to a poignant Remembrance Ceremony held at Coronation park on Monday 25 November to honour the lives affected by domestic abuse and herald the start of 16 days of activism.

Organised in collaboration with local partners, the ceremony was a community effort. Special thanks were extended to Lyndell Farmer of Artimus Girl for her sound bowl contribution, Brendan Comber from R&R Productions for sound support, Pearl Noire for her performance, Kate Riordan from the Wildflower Studio for sponsoring the flowers, and the Kiama Surf Life Saving Club for providing an alternative wet weather venue.

The ceremony served as both a solemn remembrance and a call to action. As part of Zonta International’s 16 Days of Activism campaign, the event highlighted the ongoing crisis of domestic violence. The campaign runs annually from November 25 to December 10 and aims to mobilise global efforts to address gender-based violence.

Sobering statistics presented during the ceremony painted a stark picture. One in six Australian women and one in 16 men have experienced violence at the hands of a current or former partner. Overall, one in five women and one in 20 men have experienced sexual violence. Alarmingly, one in four children in Australia are exposed to domestic violence, often suffering emotional and psychological trauma that can have lasting effects. On average, one woman every nine days and one man every month loses their life due to domestic violence. Despite the prevalence of abuse, it is significantly under-reported, with studies showing that around 60% of female victims do not contact police due to fear, shame, financial dependence, or lack of support.

The ceremony’s most poignant moment was a symbolic display of shoes, each representing a life lost to domestic violence in the past year. Attendees were invited to read the stories attached to the shoes, providing a personal connection to the tragic impact of abuse. The audience also heard the harrowing story of Hannah Clarke and her three children, whose lives were cut short in a horrific act of domestic violence in 2020.

Lyndell’s sound bowls created a solemn ambience and stirring performances of Let It Be and Hero by Pearl Noire offered moments of solace and reflection. Guests were invited to lay flowers in remembrance as the names of victims were read aloud, reinforcing the importance of honouring those who have been lost while advocating for change.

Acknowledgement was also given to organisations like SAHSSI, which supports women fleeing domestic violence in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven, and to first responders—police, paramedics, and firefighters—whose swift actions save lives and provide critical support to families in their darkest moments.

The Zonta Club expressed their gratitude to the community for standing together in solidarity and reaffirmed their commitment to ending domestic violence. The ceremony was a powerful reminder of the urgent need for awareness, support, and meaningful action to create a future where no one suffers from violence and all individuals can live in safety and dignity.

For more information about Zonta’s 16 Days of Activism, visit Zonta International.

https://thebuglenewspaper.com.au/NewsStory/zonta-club-of-kiama-shellharbour-hosts-remembrance-ceremony-to-honour-victims-of-domestic-abuse/6744f0137c0acb0292a7afa7

Zonta Club of Bradford members Shelley Alcorn, Patty DeFrank, Ginny Crouse, Linda Gault and Cinda Roberts gather together to create window displays during 16 Days of Activism.

Beginning this week, the Zonta Club of Bradford will recognize 16 Days of Activism. The event kicked off Monday, which was also the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. It finishes off Dec. 10, International Human Rights Day.

Zonta International has participated in 16 Days of Activism since it began in 1991 at the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute. During the campaign, Zonta clubs advocate in a variety of ways, including creating public displays against gender-based violence, advocating through social media and educating children and adults at local, national and international levels.

To advocate locally, Zonta Club of Bradford has placed window decorations and artwork throughout Bradford.

“The girls got together Friday and made the displays with the help of Cinda Roberts, who is my co-chair,” said Ginny Crouse, co-chair of the club’s Advocacy Committee.

The ladies have created window displays at PNC Bank and the Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce in addition to artwork at Bradford Regional Medical Center. The aim of all these displays is to remind everyone that violence against women is never acceptable.

“We have displays all throughout town because one of the big reasons we do this is to raise awareness of the problem of gender-based violence,” said Crouse. “You will also see some orange light bulbs at various places around town because the color of the campaign is orange.”

The club has placed educational posters throughout the area highlighting the effects of gender-based violence. Crouse said that she doesn’t think people understand just how prevalent the problem truly is.

“I have learned so much about this problem since becoming a member of Zonta,” said Crouse.

“For example, did you know that Pennsylvania is one of only 13 states that has laws against marrying a child?”

Crouse noted that violence against women and girls and human trafficking are two of the most pervasive human rights violations globally, but the problem is local as well.

“There are women and girls right here who need our advocacy and assistance,” Crouse said.

Zonta Club of Bradford has reached out to other local service organizations for help in that mission.

“We have challenged other service groups around the area to get involved by collecting items for the Victims’ Resource Center at the YWCA,” said Crouse. “They need everything you can think of — from toiletries to pillows — for both men and women.”

The group has also placed rip-tag posters all around the community that have the number for the victims resource center at the YWCA.

“Violence against women and children is everywhere and affects people from all classes, religions and ethnic groups,” said Crouse. “We hope that our campaign helps to shine a light on these issues and raise awareness as we advocate for those without a voice.”