BREVARD COUNTY — If you see a business or home with orange lights out front, it’s not because they’re feeling festive this fall.
The Zonta Club of Melbourne has put out a call for action to light the sky orange as part of its “Say NO to Violence Against Women” campaign from Nov. 25 to Dec. 10.
The public is invited to support the nonprofit’s luminaria fundraiser and join the Zonta Club on Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m. to “Light up the Sky.”
For $10, donors will receive a kit with six luminaries to line up their driveway or entrance.
Residents are encouraged to replace the lights outside their homes with orange bulbs throughout the 16 Days of Activism campaign. Orange light bulbs can be purchased from Home Depot.
A growing list of businesses continues to join in the campaign each year, too. Interested owners can contact zontaclub.melbourne.fl@gmail.com and the Zonta Club can deliver bulbs to its door.
“My hope is not only to talk about and educate the public about violence done to women but to talk about and do something about the people who do the violence,” said Doris Larson, Zonta Club of Melbourne member. “Quit looking at women as victims and let’s look at the perpetrators and see what we can do to fix that.”
The Zonta Club of Melbourne is part of a larger organization, Zonta International, which stands for women’s rights.
Violence against women has many facets: human trafficking, domestic violence, women living in conflict areas, and early marriage.
According to the Zonta Club of Melbourne’s website, three women die daily as a result of domestic violence and 75% are killed when trying to leave or end the relationship.
The 16 Days of Activism campaign is a worldwide effort, and even tourist areas such as the Eiffel Tower and Niagara Falls have been lit up in orange in the past.
So why choose this specific time of year to promote 16 Days of Activism?
November 25 is recognized as International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and December 10 is recognized as Human Rights Day.
“We’ve had several successes in laws being passed with regard to making it easier for women to get out of abusive relationships,” Larson said. “We’ve educated all the police departments to be aware of domestic violence, and especially strangulation.”
In addition to these victories, Larson said it’s now possible that if a strangulation can be documented, the woman doesn’t have to testify against her abuser.
The Zonta Club of Melbourne supports domestic violence shelters and has been involved with programs that help women leave their abuser.
The 16 Days of Activism campaign is just one of many year-round efforts in which the Zonta Club of Melbourne aims to educate the public.
Proceeds raised by the luminaries supports domestic violence shelters, Zonta Club scholarships, and its many projects that promote the end to violence against women.
For more information about how to get involved or to keep an eye on further campaigns, visit www.zontaspacecoast.org.
In the news: City Backs 16-Day Stand Against Gender-Based Violence
The City of Greater Geelong will demonstrate its commitment to a world where everyone is respected by supporting the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, an international campaign beginning on 25 November 2023, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
The initiative runs for 16 days until Sunday 10 December 2023 – Human Rights Day.
The City will demonstrate its support for the campaign in collaboration with Respect 2040, by promoting events and initiatives by other Geelong organisations engaging in the 16 Days of Activism campaign, including:
The launch of the 16 Days at Johnstone Park led by The Zonta Club of Geelong on Saturday 25 November 2023 with guest speakers, including the Mayor of the City of Greater Geelong, and a choir.
A walk in my shoes display in the Geelong Regional Library with Zonta Club and orange ladies in all libraries.
A Lived Experience Exhibition: Our stories for change – at the Project Space (Gallery) at Deakin Waterfront Campus by the Centre for Sexual Assault and Family Violence in collaboration with partners.
The City will also join local partners to light City landmarks orange, with the colour orange symbolising a brighter future free of violence. Landmarks will include:
The City’s Catenary Lights – Little Malop Central, between Moorabool Street and Union Street in central Geelong
Eastern Beach Palm tree up-lights on the intersection of Bellerine Street and Eastern Beach Road
The strip light along Fairnie Park
The City’s SMART Nodes at:
Deakin Waterfront
Barwon Water
University Hospital
Kardinia Park
The Gordon
Yarn tree bombing decorating trees in orange around the City by Zonta Club Geelong
Source: https://www.miragenews.com/city-backs-16-day-stand-against-gender-based-1129906/
In the news: Zonta kicking off 16 days of advocacy
Nov. 24—For another year, an Austin service club that advocates for women and young girls, will be taking a stand against violence during its Zonta Says No to Violence Against Women.
The 16-day initiative, starting Saturday
and going through Dec. 10, is an initiative whose platform stands against violence to women.
“This time of year violence rises so much because of the holiday,” Austin Zonta Club President Cheryl Retterath said. “People are stressed for money — different things cause a lot of violence. We want to stop that violence.”
According to pamphlets distributed across Austin by Zonta, 30% or about one in three women, have experienced either physical and/or sexual violence from partners.
In 2012 the international Zonta organization began its 16-day period devoted to this advocacy, which this year includes the theme of Orange the World, something Zonta will be pushing for more of in the coming years.
During the campaign, people are urged to display orange lights during the time period showing support for the effort.
In Austin, signs have been placed at major intersections, orange flags fly at the downtown Peace Plaza and the flyers have been placed in businesses around town.
The message is the same throughout.
“Basically be kind,” Retterath said. “Everybody is going through problems at times, going through COVID and everything else. If everybody showed a little bit of kindness the world would be a better place.”
However, Zonta Says No to Violence Against Women, is just one of the things the club does to honor and support women and girls.
Over the years, the Austin chapter, formed in 1951, has taken part in a number of projects and has grown and strengthened each year.
The group raises funds to donate locally to programs like More than Pink, a group devoted to young girls in Austin. Zonta donates pink backpacks with personal items that girls may not otherwise receive.
They also donate locally to groups like Rachel’s Hope.
Anybody wanting more information should visit: zontaclubofAustinMN.org.
Source: https://www.aol.com/zonta-kicking-off-16-days-031800442.html
In the news: Zonta Club Kathmandu organizes awareness program on Violence Against women
Photo Courtesy: Zonta Club Kathmandu
KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 26
Zonta Club Kathmandu organized an awareness program in association with the women’s wing of Armed Police Force and Ncell as part of 16 Days Activism on Gender-Based Violence program by Zonta Club Kathmandu, today.
The event, attended by Chief Guest AIG Chandra Prakash Gautam, witnessed participation of women from all 32 wards of Kathmandu, along with APF ladies and Zonta club members. A skit was showcased which raised the different issues faced by women. There was also sharing of legal rights pertaining to women in Nepal. Yashmine Bhattarai, Ncell, shared information on information security within an organization and outside to raised awareness about cyber security, according to the statement issued by the Zonta Club Kathmandu.
As part of the 16 days activism on gender-based violence, Zonta Club of Kathmandu is also showcasing four different videos pertaining to child marriage, domestic violence, office harassment and sexual abuse on public transportation in 31 screens of QFX cinemas in 13 locations. The members of the youth wing of Zonta – Z and Golden Z club from Sanskriti International School, NAMI College and Silver Mountain School of Hotel Management, are sharing their voice to raise awareness about gender-based violence in the different social media platforms of Zonta Club of Kathmandu, the statement added.
Photo Courtesy: Zonta Club Kathmandu
“Our campaign will not be limited to 16 days only,” said Zonta Club of Kathmandu president Ava Shah. “Our campaign that began today will continue for 16 days, 16 weeks, 16 months and move ahead until the violence against women and children is gone.”
Senior Advocate Suneeta Regmi Pokhrel spoke on women’s rights saying the campaign should be all year round to spread the world about laws and regulations that protect women’s rights.
Ncell’s Yasmine Bhattarai highlighted cybercrimes on women and risks that come when using the social medial and internet and identity thefts through cyberspace, keeping personal phones secure and passwords safe.
Photo Courtesy: Zonta Club Kathmandu
Meanwhile, APF AIG Chandra Prakash Gautam expressed commitment to work to safeguard women’s rights and to end violence on women and children.
Zonta International, a leading global organization founded in New York in 1919 envisions a world in which women’s rights are recognized as human rights and every woman is able to achieve her full potential. In a world where women have access to all resources, they are represented in decision making positions on an equal basis with men and no women live in fear of violence. This is being achieved through 1,200 Zonta Clubs in 63 countries across the globe by more than 29,000 Zontians committed to the professionalism, fellowship and service of Zonta’s visionary founders, Zonta Club Kathmandu said.
Photo Courtesy: Zonta Club Kathmandu
Zonta Club Kathmandu was chartered under Zonta International and established in 2012. It is a legally registered NGO in Kathmandu, represented by 64 members from diverse backgrounds. “We come to work voluntarily on the advancement of the status of women with the objective to improve the economic, education, health, and issues related to youth and violence against women at the national and local level through service and advocacy,” it said.
Photo Courtesy: Zonta Club Kathmandu
Photo Courtesy: Zonta Club Kathmandu
Photo Courtesy: Zonta Club Kathmandu
Photo Courtesy: Zonta Club Kathmandu
Zonta Club of Torino hosts flash mob in orange
During the 16 Days of Activism and the Orange the World campaign, the Zonta Club of Torino, Italy, partnered with the city and the City Public Company of Water to illuminate fountains in the city center of Piazza CLN in orange.
On 27 November, they organized a flash mob in front of the fountains to say NO to violence against women with the presence of journalists and public figures.
Zonta Club of Colombo III kicks off 16 Day of Activism
A recent survey in Sri Lanka has revealed that one out of every four women beyond the age of 15 years has been subjected to violence at least once during her lifetime. In a country with a population of approximately 22.2 million, 52% of that population is women; the numbers are staggering. Surveys have further revealed that the number of women facing violence has escalated since the COVID-19 pandemic and may be higher now due to the tension in households due to the prevailing economic recession in Sri Lanka.
What is even more troubling is the lack of knowledge in society, especially women, of the avenues available to seek assistance and advice in the event of women being subject to violence. This ignorance in society has led to the importance of raising awareness of the helplines available for women to seek help if they are subject to violence.
To address the lack of awareness on the helplines available for women, the Zonta Club of Colombo III partnered with one of the most popular television channels in Sri Lanka, Sirasa TV and TV1, to create a TV trailer that is telecast every hour throughout the 16 day activism period, to raise awareness on the two main women’s helplines: the helpline of the Women and Children’s Bureau of the Sri Lanka Police and the helpline of the Ministry of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment in Sri Lanka.
Club President Kamini Senaratne participated in the morning show of Sirasa Television on 24 November and on the Yes FM Radio Show to talk about Zonta’s initiatives in advocating against violence against women.
To kick off the 16 Days of Activism and the Zonta Says NO to Violence campaign on 25 November, the club organized a walk with all the Sri Lankan clubs, which is a first in the country. The walk started in Independence Square to raise awareness of the need for the elimination of violence against women and also to create awareness of the state-run helplines available for women to reach out to in the event of being subject to any violence.
The walk also drew attention to the two prominent state-owned women’s helplines through the placards.
One of the most common modes of transport, the trishaws, were dressed in the Zonta Says NO message, and orange buttons were distributed alongside the walk.
In the true Zonta Spirit, the walk was supported by the Zonta clubs of Colombo I and II and other organizations, such as the Sri Lanka Sumithrayo, Inner Wheel Club of Colombo and Ms. Hettigoda Industries.
The enthusiastic participants enjoyed the walk, an excellent opportunity to network and refresh connections while sending a vital message to the public.
Zonta Club of Liestal provides information on violence against women
The Zonta Club of Liestal, Switzerland, created an informational booth in Sissach on violence against women. Zontians handed out emergency cards with phone numbers to women and men in the village. In addition, they were able to place these cards in several shops.
Zonta Clubs of Ibadan I and II says NO to Violence Against Women
The Zonta clubs of Ibadan I and II, Nigeria, attended the flag-off of the #16Days of Activism by placing two large billboards and placards in strategic locations with lots of traffic to generation awareness toward the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign. The promotional items also say NO to child marriage, gender-based violence and sexual abuse.
To the clubs, the female child has a right to life and education; no child should be married off at the time she should be working on building her future. Men are not exempted from this education, and statistics have shown that they are the major perpetrators of this abuse. They believe they can protect children and women’s rights and the future together.
Zonta Club of Hua-Lian kicks off #16Days
In response to the annual 16 Days Campaign Against Gender-Based Violence, the Zonta Club of Hua-Lian, Taiwan, took action to advocate the end of all forms of gender-based violence on 25 November, launching the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women global campaign.
The campaign aims to raise awareness and expand advocacy to end violence against women and girls around the world. The club entered the community initiative and gained public support and recognition.
Zontians from New Zealand paddles for Zonta Says NO
Zontians from New Zealand formed a 15-member team for a Dragon Boating Team Paddling in Orange for Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women. Members came from the Zonta clubs of Christchurch-Canterbury, South and North. The team practiced in orange so that any team practicing could see them.
The team had their first Regatta, where they put their tent up among 17 other tents, with the Zonta flag and an orange lady. Their goal is to get exposure for this campaign.
Amongst the 17 teams, about 400 participants in total, the Zonta team was the only one to have paddled five times. At every 3x200m and 3x500m race, all the participants yelled, “Go, Zonta!”
Just walking to the pontoon to race, and after the race, walking back to the tent, they were doing the same. The team found the atmosphere exciting.
Although the team came in last at every race, the Breast of Life Women’s team gave them a guard of honor with their paddles at the lace race. The gesture deeply moved them.
The team was overwhelmed with the exposure and support for Zonta.
They saw the impact their presence had at the Regatta by just getting out there in the community doing the race, having fun fellowship and promoting their cause. They were the only team in bright orange, and a comment was that they couldn’t be missed, and people were asking what is Zonta.
The team has future Regattas coming up to further promote the Zonta Says NO campaign, and they will be paddling until March.
Join us in saying NO 