Zonta Club of Peconic Bay uses networking to Say NO to Violence Against Women

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Peconic Bay Zonta member Mona Rowe was on a road trip this summer, passing through Nevada. She spotted a thrift shop in Carson City, noticed a sign for Advocates to End Domestic Violence, and stopped to talk to personnel in the thrift shop and in the organization’s headquarters, a total of three women.

She learned about their comprehensive services, including 24/7/365 crisis and texting lines, a shelter, counseling support groups, and court advocates. Then she shared information about Zonta International and fall campaign for Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women.

The four women had a productive exchange of ideas, especially about fund raising. Unfortunately, the Carson City organization does not have the resources to aid women outside of the state of Nevada, making cooperative projects with Zonta unlikely. Nevertheless, networking – year round – is always a good thing.

And everyone was encouraged to talk about shared values. Mona said goodbye, promising to highlight the organization on Peconic Bay’s website. And she did on November 25, 2023, the first days of the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign.

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Zonta Club of Sydney Breakfast puts Advocacy in Action on the Sydney Harbour Bridge

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Members of 8 Zonta Clubs in Area 1, District 24 joined members of the Zonta Club of Sydney Breakfast in our annual ZONTA SAYS NO TO VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN walk across the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Wearing bright orange and carrying posters that explained who we are and what we are advocating for, drew shouts of praise and applause from members of the public walking across the bridge or enjoying time at Milsons Point and The Rocks.

Zonta Club of Tortola ‘oranges’ the British Virgin Islands

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Zonta Club of Tortola once again ‘oranged’ the British Virgin Islands (BVI) as part of the global campaign: 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.

Zonta Club of Tortola joined forces with local groups Unite BVI Foundation, Girl Up, F.E.M.A.L.E., WIN British Virgin Islands, the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force and others to participate in various activities on Tortola and Virgin Gorda.

This included interviews with community leaders and a keynote address by special guest, Ms. Ronelle King, a Multi-Award-Winning Gender Rights Activist. Ms. King, who visited the BVI from Barbados, founded Life In Leggings: Caribbean Alliance Against gender-based Violence to eradicate regional occurrences of gender-based violence.

The activities culminated in a march throughout the capital, Road Town on Saturday December 9th, 2023. While the Enis Adams Primary School Drum Corps led the way, various groups carried placards and banners and chanted, “Say No to Violence against Women and Girls!” The public was encouraged to take a stand against gender-based Violence.

Throughout the 16 Days of Activism, Zontians could be seen hanging banners and decorating trees with orange bows and signs throughout Road Town. Zontians also shared Facebook posts with tips on how the public could support women and girls who suffer from gender-based violence.

Radio ads illustrated the real-life conversations which take place regarding domestic and gender-based violence and let the community know where to seek help.

Zonta Club of Bangkok VII Says NO

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ZONTA SAY NO to Violence Against Women & Girls by Zonta Club of Bangkok 7 at Rajaprachanukrou58 Nonthaburi Province School on the 8th December 2023.

The campaign included arranging the public relations board to stop violence against women and girls for the 16 Days of Activism at Rajaprachanukrou58 Nonthaburi Province School.

The club stretched an orange strip of fabric around the school for teachers and students and all came together and themself wrote a campaign to “STOP”

The club held the orange flags parade of letters for STOP Sign campaigning. All participants from the Area Director team the Zonta Club of Bangkok 7 and the School.

They also invited Z Club #LPP1008 supported by ZCBKK7 participate the event.

The club held a Special Seminar: Who can reduce violent acts? Violence Content Story, love yourself Inspiration and Self Defense technic Demo.

The club also joined forces to show stop signs. Zonta Says No to violence against women and girls.

Zonta Club of Riga displays 133 pairs of orange shoes

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The Zonta Club of Riga, Latvia, marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women with an installation “Where is she?”. It took place less than a week before a crucial parliamentary vote on ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention). Latvia signed the convention in 2016, but there had been strong opposition to its ratification. Meanwhile, since 2016, 133 women have been killed by their family members or intimate partners. 

The 133 pairs of orange shoes represented the women who had lost their lives while the politicians postponed ratification of the major convention against domestic violence. The symbolically abandoned shoes were displayed in the alley before the government building. The one-day installation aimed to draw attention to the shocking numbers of violence in Latvia and call for ratification of the Istanbul Convention. 

The event was organized in partnership with the NGO “Sievietei paveicās” (“Lucky her”) and received broad media coverage. It was broadcast on the main TV stations, national radio, major internet news portals, and social media. The good news is that less than a week after the event, the parliament finally ratified the Istanbul Convention. 

Zonta Club of Guelph says NO with multiple actions

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The Zonta Club of Guelph, Canada, in partnership with the Guelph Wellington Women in Crisis and the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Support and Education Centre at the University of Guelph, conducted many advocacy and service events over the 16 Activism. Their actions included:

  • Lighting city hall in purple.
  • Conducting two Signal for Help workshops.
  • Holding a vigil on Dec 6, the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.
  • Dropping off more than US$2000 worth of new women’s garments to support the Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Program at the Guelph General Hospital.

Zonta Club of Seguin says NO with a proclamation

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The Zonta Club of Seguin, USA, met at City Hall with city council members and the mayor of Seguin, wherein a proclamation was signed proclaiming 21 November 2023 as Zona Says NO to Violence Against Women Day. The day encourages all residents to prevent gender-based violence by educating the community on its harm, to advocate for survivors of gender-based violence and to act in service on their behalf.

It was further acknowledged that for over 100 years, Zonta International has contributed to help achieve a world free of violence against women and girls through service and advocacy, that such violence is a severe violation of human rights that not only negatively affects women it also affects their families, communities and countries around the world.

Zonta Club of Colombo III highlights Zonta Says NO at Christmas bazaar

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The International Christmas Charity Bazaar (ICCB) is a much sought-after annual Christmas Market that is patronized by many foreign diplomatic missions in Sri Lanka and selected charities. It is a much-awaited happening in Colombo to kick start the festive season.

This year, the Zonta Club Colombo III is privileged to be amongst the few charities associated with the ICCB and has been a keen participant due to the opportunity of visibility to Zonta.

This year, the club used this opportunity to showcase and raise awareness about Zonta’s drive to Say No to Violence Against Women. All club members participated in the bazaar, wearing orange clothing and orange ribbons, representing their pledge to eliminate violence against women. They also distributed orange ribbons amongst many participants at the bazaar as a gesture of support to stand against gender-based violence.

The message was spread across thousands of visitors to the bazaar, including visitors from many diplomatic missions in Sri Lanka, giving widespread visibility to the cause of standing against violence against women during the 16-day activism period.

ICCB is an event that the club looks forward to every year to raise awareness of its work by using the greater visibility provided through the network of diplomatic missions and social media/ television platforms and also for the opportunity provided to raise funds for the club projects.

Zonta Club of Tuguegarao gives Hugz of Hope during the 16 Days of Activism

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On 27 November, as part of their 16 Days of Activism campaign, the Zonta Club of Tuguegarao, Philippines, shared teddy bears for HugZ of Hope, offering solace to survivors of Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) and kids admitted at the Cagayan Valley Medical Center and those under the care of Dr. Annie Bautista in St. Paul Hospital, Tuguegarao City.

Each HugZ of Hope Bear is a symbol of support, holding the warmth of a thousand embraces, a gesture of love to those on their journey of healing. As we placed these cuddly companions in gentle arms, we whispered messages of courage, resilience, and the promise of brighter days ahead.

The HugZ of Hope, spearheaded by Club President Olive Pascual, is an initiative that embodies the club’s commitment to standing with survivors, offering comfort amidst adversity and reminding them they are never alone.

Through soft embraces, the club aims to restore hope, inspire strength and ignite a spark of joy in the hearts of those affected by VAWC and suffering from illnesses.

The club is making each bear a tangible reminder that love and support encircle the receivers, a beacon guiding their path toward healing and empowerment.

Zonta Club of Geelong Inc leads city for the 16 Days of Activism

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For the past four years, the Zonta Club of Geelong Inc, Australia, has taken the lead in encouraging the city authority and other organizations to use the 16 Days as an opportunity to highlight the need to eliminate violence against women.

This year, the club kicked off the 16 Days with a gathering in a city park on 25 November with local rotary clubs, city councilors, a politician, members of local domestic violence service providers and the public. A sea of orange t-shirts arrived at the park to the sound of women’s anthems playing. A city councilor spoke about the increased awareness of the local government authority on the need to recognize this event as a major opportunity to promote the city’s work in this field. They also heard from a local domestic violence staff member about an art exhibition of work by victim-survivors.

Over the 16 days, there was a great deal of orange from yarn-bombing trees in the central business district, orange lighting on buildings at night, and many, many “orange ladies” at local libraries, hospitals and community centers.

This year, the campaign’s exposure, the club’s increased visibility and the involvement of many other organizations have risen significantly compared to previous years. Everywhere the club was present, they had a Zonta Says No to Violence Against Women logo displayed and promoted the goals and ideals of Zonta.