Each year, the Zonta Club of Hong Kong East, Hong Kong, joins the Zonta Says NO Against Women campaign to change gender-based attitudes and behaviors to end gender-based violence and raise awareness from the general public on the subject.
This year, club members dressed in orange during their business meetings to show their support to the campaign, send their love and care to those in need and hope to make the world a better place for all.
The Zonta Club of Parma, Italy, is taking action on the International Day of Elimination of Violence Against Women with the Councilor for Equal Opportunity of the City of Parma. The club will light the Parma City Hall in orange to kick off the first day of the 16 Days of Activism.
The Zonta Club of Sydney West, Australia, is publishing 16 statements for the 16 Days of Activism. Every day, the club will be posting a photo of a member or a supporter. Each post will have a relevant statement for the 16 days on their Facebook.
On 9 November, the Zonta Club of Brooklyn, USA, invited Linda MacDonald and Jeanne Sarson, two retired public health nurses, who have spent the past 28 years as grassroots supporters of women who have survived non-State torture (NST), trafficking and sexualized exploitation perpetrated within intimate relationships. Though Linda and Jeanne work predominately in Canada, they counseled governments, UN agencies and NGOs worldwide on violence inflicted on women and girls. They advocate the need for women’s voices to be heard.
During the segment, the club felt staggered by the statistics quoted by Linda and Jeanne and was especially touched by the voices they shared. The speakers talked about the concept of “non-State torture,” a term they coined to address all forms of violence and torture against women and girls. Getting laws changed to recognize this abuse as torture is their life’s goal, and they have recently published a book on the subject.
The club recorded the program and sent it to the Zonta USA Caucus. They are planning on partnering with the local chapter of National Organization Women (NOW) on a 3-part seminar on human trafficking.
To engage members to participate in this year’s Zonta Says NO campaign, the Zonta Club of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, prepared orange t-shirts and oranges masks for everyone.
During their general meeting, the club took pictures of each member wearing their shirts and masks while making a different Zonta Says NO gesture. They compiled all the photos to create posters.
During the 16 Days of Activism, the club will share the posters on social media to promote saying NO to violence against women.
The Zonta Club of Seguin, USA, is raising awareness of violence towards women in their community.
A proclamation was signed by the club and the mayor of Seguin, Donna Dodgen, to announce 25 November 25- 10 December officially as the 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence in Seguin.
Mayor Donna called upon all citizens to join her in recognizing the club’s impact on advancing the status of women locally and throughout the world.
The city’s water tower will also be lit orange to raise awareness on violence against women.
On 10 November, at the inquiry of the Zonta Club of New Essex, USA, Governor Philip Murphy of New Jersey proclaimed 25 November to be Elimination of Violence Against Women Day in the state. The day will recognize that violence against women is an obstacle to achieving equality and peace. It also acknowledges that abuse prevents victims from obtaining their inalienable human rights and freedoms. Since COVID-19, there has been an exacerbated risk of violence against women, especially those already vulnerable.
Governor Philip also committed to illuminating the Capitol building in orange on 25 November as a part of the United Nation’s UNiTE to End Violence Against Women and Girls Campaign. The first Elimination of Violence Against Women Day theme is Orange the World: Fund, respond, prevent, and collect.
Club president Dorothy Knauer said, “the Zonta Club of Essex County is proud to join with the New Jersey Governor’s Office, UN Women, Zonta International and organizations across the state and around the world to unite and take action to end violence against women. We envision a day and a world where all women are safe from all violence.”
The Zonta Club of Maroochy Inc, Australia, launches its Zonta Says NO social media campaign with GIFs.
The club was inspired to make GIFs after participating in Zonta International’s Elevator Speech Pitch. The GIFs were an instant hit and are now trending in use across District 22 and some overseas clubs.
The club hopes to produce more GIFs throughout the 16 Days of Activism.
The Zonta Club of Harrisburg-Hershey, USA, held its Zonta Says NO to Gender Violence rally on 9 November. In support of Zonta International’s mission of eliminating trafficking, this year’s event focused on preventing and stopping human trafficking. Nine legislators and representatives from anti-trafficking organizations presented insightful information on current legislation and best practices on recognizing and eliminating human trafficking.
To learn more about the speakers’ presentations, the club urges you to visit their website.
The Zonta Club of Pontiac North Oakland, USA, was permitted by their local Pontiac main library to place a Zonta Says NO display in the main case. The display went up in October for Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and it will continue to stay there for the 16 Days of Activism.
