Zonta Clubs in Ibadan, Nigeria, reprised a classic advocacy initiative for its Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign, with the flag-off of a month of advocacy on two major bus routes. Choosing the longest routes through the city of Ibadan, Zonta messages are carried on two buses as livery and handbills are distributed.
In the Philippines, 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women is observed from 25 November through 12 December. Each year, the Zonta Club of Cebu II takes an active role in the 18 Days.
Honoring the theme “UNiTEd for a VAW-free Philippines,” the club will engage in several service, advocacy and information-generation activities that will allow women of all ages to make progress toward reaching gender equality.
Because education and open access to information is key to empowerment, the Zonta Club of Cebu II opened the campaign by inaugurating a Women, Gender and Family Studies Section at both the Cebu City and Mandaue City public libraries. This section is a repository of books, pamphlets, documents and other reading materials on women’s issues, gender mainstreaming, women’s legislative agenda, and methods and strategies to achieve gender equality in the workplace and the community. It is a vital resource center for women who seek to know more about their rights and the opportunities available to them.
“Saying no to violence against women is everybody’s business” is the strong over-arching message that Zonta Club of Cebu II is sending as it commemorates the worldwide global campaign to end gender-based violence. The club seeks to engage all sectors to unite and collaborate to actively fight against any or all forms of violence, discrimination and gender-based abuses and crimes.
In her welcome address, attorney Mae Elaine Bathan, Tourism Undersecretary and President of Zonta Club of Cebu II, stressed the importance of continued efforts to spread awareness of the rights of women and children. Atty. Bathan said. “The victims of these crimes, forms of discrimination and abuses do not have to fight their battles alone. “We are here to empower them. We are here to give them the necessary skills and knowledge. We are here to provide them the avenue by which they can be able to protect their rights and learn to stand up for themselves and say no to any and all forms of abuses,” she stressed.
On 25 November the campaign was launched with calls to action from three vigilant advocates. Ms. Emmeline Versoza, former executive director of the Philippine Commission on Women reported on the status of Filipino Women in the areas of economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, political empowerment and the prevalence of violence against their persons. She stressed that
Ms. Annabelle Maglasang, coordinator, the University of the Philippines Cebu Gender and Development office, talked about Psycho-social Support to Persons who encountered Gender Based violence.
Attorney May Aguilar, the founding partner of Cavad and Aguilar Law firm, discussed the topic “Issues and Challenges That A Woman Face In VAWC: Strategies in Place for Action. She stressed that the only thing eviler than violence itself is our apathy.
The webinar ended with the Zontians taking oaths of commitment to continue their advocacy to campaign against gender-based violence.
The Zonta Club of London, England, kicked off the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence with members donning orange to raise awareness.
The club is again partnering with Savera UK. Savera UK held a “5k to end Honour Based Abuse” event in Liverpool to mark Day 1, with Zonta members participating in the event.
The Zonta Club of London has a comprehensive social media campaign planned to raise awareness about the 16 Days and share what individuals can do to end violence and abuse against women and girls.
The Zonta Club of Ploiesti, Romania, aims to promote human rights, decrease instances of domestic violence, and increase the values of equality, tolerance, integrity and honesty with its “I Have My Right” contest.
High school students are invited to submit a 300- to 700-word essay on the topic of any human or child right. The essays are presented online and the participants received diplomas.
“Through this project, in which knowledge and dissemination of human and child rights is pursued, a better society is created,
without violence,” the club said. “And in this way, the Zonta Club of Ploiesti says NO to violence.
The Zonta Club of Alytus, Lithuania, worked with the Alytus Women’s Crisis Center for its “You Are Not Alone” project, which brings awareness to violence against women and girls. The club aims to raise awareness, reduce indifference and eliminate the perception that violent relationships can be justified.
Two lectures were presented—one in person and one online—”Awareness of Domestic Violence: The Dynamics of the Circle of Violence” and “The Path of Help for Those Who Have Experienced Violence.” The lectures were delivered by a psychologist and a lawyer from the Alytus Women’s Crisis Centre.
After the lectures, people met outside the Alytus City Theatre and formed a procession to the Alytus Women’s Crisis Center, where there was an orange door symbolizing opening a door if you need help.
The Zonta Club of Schaffhausen, Switzerland, joined Soroptimist Schaffhausen to host a memorial and solidarity procession on 24 November. The action was musically framed atmospherically with the choir “salto cordale.”
The event also included an installation of shoes, which symbolized the number of femicides committed in Switzerland in 2022.
For the annual 16 Days of Activism and Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaigns, the Zonta Club of Kauai, USA, brought awareness to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), including Native Hawaiians. The Red Dress Exhibit will be featured at the Kauai Society of Artists gallery at Kukui Grove Center from 25 November to 10 December for public viewing.
The public will learn more about #MMIWG at a special one-day event on 29 November, at Kukui Grove Center, which will include speakers, resources from YWCA and the American Association of University Women who are also partners of the club during the 16 Days of Activism.
Read the story by Dennis Fujimoto in this link: https://www.thegardenisland.com/2022/11/18/hawaii-news/zonta-red-dress-campaign-to-bring-attention-to-indigenous-females/?fbclid=IwAR1J53gYubS465lCvh-BrMG5LfaTlCQfEoc-Mkp5jD_LgCNRKHyg8zVYAVU
The Zonta Club of Cheyenne, USA, presented a What Were You Wearing sexual assault survivor exhibit at Laramie County Community College from 7 to 11 November.
This impactful display asked viewers to understand that sexual assault is never about clothing. One intent of the exhibit was to release survivors from the burden of self-blame. It also challenged those who viewed the display to reflect on why the myth of connecting clothing and sexual assault continues to exist. The stories used in the exhibit were donated by survivors of sexual assault and were used with their consent. Viewers were asked to see themselves reflected in not only the outfits but also in the stories.
This realization moves one away from blaming the victim for violence and places the responsibility where it belongs, on those who caused the harm. The exhibit was offered in cooperation with Laramie County Community College.
On 5 November, members of the Zonta Club of Prince George’s County Area participated in the Prince George’s County’s States Attorney’s 3rd Annual Purple Bike Ride to raise awareness of domestic violence.
As a prelude to the 16 Days of Activism, the club offered “Selfie Frames” for riders to commemorate the event and communicate their agreement with stopping the silence. They also gave away t-shirts donated by their local public television and information about domestic violence resources in our community. This event helped raise awareness of their club as well as domestic violence.
The women of the Zonta Club international initiated a conference on November 08, 2022 in Ouagadougou.
The activity aims to raise women’s awareness of gender-based violence.
The women who took part in this meeting within the framework of the 103rd anniversary of the Zonta Club international benefited from capacity building on GBV.
According to Rasmata Derra, sociologist, expert in gender and development, GBV takes into account acts that inflict suffering, constraint and deprivation of freedoms against a person because of their sex.
Dame Derra indicated that women and girls are the main victims.
Rasmata Derra, sociologist, gender and development expert
She also explained that forced marriages, physical violence, sexual exploitation, moral violence and abandonment of the marital home are all part of forms of gender-based violence.
Also according to this source, a WHO report published in 2012 revealed that per year, 475,000 deaths linked to interpersonal violence, of which 82% among women against 18% among men, are recorded.
Solange Hien, President of the Zonta club of Ouagadougou for the 2022-2024 biennium
President of the Zonta club of Ouagadougou for the biennale, Mrs. Solange Hien invites the entire population to get involved in the fight against GBV.
She believes that it is necessary to break gender inequalities.
“ This is only possible if we ourselves master these concepts of inequalities between men and women,” she said.
The speakers plan to advocate in order to achieve Zonta’s objectives for the 2022-2024 biennium.
This includes serving locally and globally, improving the legal, political, economic and professional status of women.
In addition, they intend to promote justice, universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
As a reminder, Zonta International is a global service, interprofessional, apolitical and non-denominational organization that brings together women and men from around the world with responsibilities in administration, commerce, the liberal professions and the business world.
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Its members put their skills at the service of others by conducting discussions and actions aimed at promoting women in social and cultural life.
The organization was born on November 8, 1919 in Buffalo, USA.
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