The newly chartered Zonta Club of Accra Jubilee, Ghana, organized its first event—a fundraising health walk—on 5 December during the 16 Days of Advocacy to support the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign.

With the support of members and executives, other clubs in Accra, members of their sponsoring and mentoring committee and family and friends, the club took up placards and embarked on a 4.8-km (3-mi) walk.

During the walk, club members spoke to people on the street, advocating against violence against women. At one bus station, they received pushback from some of the men, who stated it was the women who were abusing them. However, they also met a number of people who were excited about the campaign and honked and cheered them on. All in all, they were well received and there was interest and genuine concern on how to improve.

The club also organized a social media campaign to created awareness of gender-based violence. They interviewed Isobel Afful-Mensah, a resource person at Pearl Safe Haven. They released the video in 16 parts with 16 themes, including a statement of the problem and ways in which individuals can engage to help curb it. Click here to see the videos.

The Pearl Safe Haven is a refuge where women and children who have suffered abuse can feel safe to rebuild a constructive life for themselves. To learn more about Pearl Safe Haven please visit their website.

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The Zonta Club of Ilocos Norte, Philippines, actively participated in the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence and posted about their activities daily on their Facebook page.

Some of their activities are below.

• The club put signs, banners and billboards around their community.
• The club hosted multiple workshops on topics such as sexual harassment and domestic violence, rape, violence against women and children, HIV and AIDS, and more.
• The Tobacco Monopoly Monument, one of Laoag City’s iconic structures, was illuminated in orange.
• Students from the Ilocos Norte National High School (INNHS) Z Club and MMSU-CTE’s Golden Z Club shared their visual pledges to say no to violence against women.
• Together with the Z club, the club distributed banners bearing hotline numbers of the Philippine National Police and the Social Welfare Department Offices for women and girls to call in the event of any violence against them.
• The club posted stories from violence survivors on their Facebook page.
• The club, together with the Mariano Marcos State University College of Teacher Education and Integrated University Laboratory Schools, and the Ilocos Norte National High School, presented a timely and relevant webinar on cybercrimes. Zontian and Atty. Pia Crisologo-Cua, shared her expert advice on how teens can protect themselves in cyberspace and Zontian and Atty. Cherie Bareng-Asistin familiarized participants with cyber libel and theft, and its consequences.
• The club called on all Local Government Units (LGUs) to make a formal manifestation of its support for SDG 5 by way of a resolution prepared by their City/Municipal Council. To date, 18 LGUs out of the 23 in Ilocos Norte have provided one. The resolutions are a clear indication of the progress the Zonta club in making in raising awareness for the SDG 5 and what it encompasses and we are grateful to the LGUs for heeding their call.

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People may not think it can happen in Oswego County, but it does. Human trafficking is a national issue, experts say, even in seemingly wholesome communities.

To raise awareness locally, the Zonta Club of Oswego, USA, is spearheading a coalition of other local organizations for a free online event titled “That Doesn’t Happen Here: Trafficking in Rural Communities” set for 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10.

According to Zonta Club President Sonia Robinson, this event is part of the larger international “16 Days of Activism,” but this is the first virtual opportunity in Oswego County.

During this time, Nov. 25 to Dec. 10, the Zonta Club is joining thousands of organizations across the globe to raise awareness and support against gender-based violence.

According to the United Nations, the campaign was initially started in 1991 by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership (CWGL) and is now practiced in more than 187 countries worldwide.

“In times with such uncertainty, it continues to be an honor and privilege to provide support and increase awareness of many forms of victimization in Oswego County,” said Stacie France, Oswego County Opportunities response coordinator.

“The goal is to increase the awareness of how trafficking impacts communities such as Oswego County and share information related to national statistics,” France said.

According to France, Oswego County Opportunities will provide training for the event and was contacted to bring this event to professionals throughout the community.

The training for officials at the event will be led by New York State Department of Health Rape Crisis Counselor Kate Salmonsen.

“We were incredibly thankful to have Zonta ask us to provide a training on trafficking in rural communities. This is an issue that many people are unaware of, as well as how prevalent it is in their own community.” Salmonsen said. “It is a true privilege to be able to share resources with members of my community.”

France said Salmonsen will moderate discussions, provide information, statistics and available services.

According to state officials, Human Trafficking is an issue worldwide, and specifically in New York, it has been on the rise.

Governor Andrew Cuomo said New York had a 70 percent increase in trafficking reports between January and June compared to the same time in 2019. Between March and June of 2020, state agencies had more referrals than any other four-month period prior.

“There is a deeply troubling and prevailing misconception that human trafficking only happens in the shadows and in faraway nations, when in reality it’s a heinous crime that often happens in plain sight and in our communities,” Cuomo said in statement.

According to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, two types of human trafficking are recognized by New York: sex trafficking and labor trafficking. Sex trafficking is when someone profits from prostitution, and labor trafficking is coercing or transporting someone to perform labor or services.

Two New York State Penal Laws introduced in 2007 authorize the repercussions for the offenses. One determines that sex trafficking is a class-B felony carrying upward of a 25-year sentence. The other law determines labor trafficking as a class-D felony carrying a punishment upward of seven years.

Robinson said the Zonta Club will be posting updates about the event. To get more information, visit https://zontasaysno.wordpress.com/zontasvision/campaign/.

Robinson urges community members to contact their representatives in Congress to urge continued funding for the 1994 Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).

According to the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women, VAWA grant funding has expired. Appropriations for grants stopped on Feb. 15, 2019, and Congress has yet to re-appropriate grant financing.

http://www.oswegocountynewsnow.com/news/zonta-oswego-urges-16days-of-action-on-human-trafficking/article_c133067e-3a50-11eb-be9c-c334e9f2c15e.html

The Zonta e-Club of Canada1 invited cities, towns, sports arenas, bridges and lighthouses to illuminate in orange on 25 November to launch the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. Across Canada from coast to coast, 21 buildings and monuments glowed in orange.

The Zonta Club of Mascoutah, USA, placed orange Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women signs and banners around their town. The lights at the main intersection by City Hall were lit orange with orange ribbons.

Mascoutah Mayor Jerry Daugherty signed a proclamation recognizing Zonta’s efforts to end violence against women and girls. The mayor, city manager, chief of police and chamber of commerce president all took part in the photo for the proclamation presentation.

In their effort to stop domestic violence against women and girls, the Nevada Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence (NCEDSV) is partnering with the Domestic Violence Resource Center and the Zonta Club of Greater Reno for a community-wide observance during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.

“In 2012, Zonta International created a worldwide campaign to support the 16 Days movement, called Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women,” said Joy Orlich, President, Zonta Club of Greater Reno. “The signature color is orange, and events will be held in over 60 countries around the world, with one message, ‘Let’s end gender violence’!”

From Wednesday, November 25, 2020 to Thursday, December 10, 2020, NCEDSV, the Domestic Violence Resource Center, and Zonta Club of Greater Reno raised awareness of gender violence to inspire community involvement through the dedicated actions below:

International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (IDEVAG), on November 25, 2020, kicked off the 16 days of activism. IDEVAG aimed to raise awareness through the 2020 UNiTE Campaign Theme: “Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect!” with the UN Women organization.

On November 30, 2020, the Zonta Club of Greater Reno and the Domestic Violence Resource Center partnered together for the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Virtual Event – “How do we say NO to Gender Violence?” This interactive forum was a Facebook live-streamed event that included a panel of local experts and service providers, where viewers were invited to “Add your Voice” to the conversation, via posts and chat box comments.

This year, for Giving Tuesday, NCEDSV teamed up with The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) to encourage communities to take part in supporting survivors and domestic violence organizations by using the #GiveForDV hashtag.

https://thisisreno.com/2020/12/nevada-coalition-to-end-domestic-and-sexual-violence-aims-to-end-violence-against-women-through-16-days-of-activism-sponsored/

The Zonta clubs of The Bahamas presented the Ministry of National Security’s National Neighbourhood Watch Council (NNWC) with about 70 bins for use throughout various Bahamian communities on Friday.

The donation was made as part of their “16 Days of Activism” and ongoing campaign “Zonta Says  No” to Violence Against Women, Girls and Children during a press event at the ministry’s John F Kennedy Drive headquarters.

The bins are branded with Zonta to bring attention to the campaign and will be used by the NNWC in association with its ongoing “Team Up to Clean Up” Campaign, which is a part of the national “We are One” Campaign.

Among those present were Minister of National Security Marvin Dames; Permanent Secretary Marco Rolle; Undersecretary Cheryl Darville; Director of the Ministry’s Research and Development Unit Dr Jennifer Bethel; Superintendent of Police and NNWC National Coordinator Wilton Johnson; NNWC co-chairs Alesha Hart and Keno Wong; President of the Zonta Club of New Providence Dr Theresa Adderley Smith; President of the Zonta Club of Nassau Monique Sands; NNWC and Zonta Club members; and other stakeholders.

Dames thanked the Zonta Clubs, expressed gratitude for the presentation and reiterated that his ministry is working closely with civic groups like Zonta to bring greater attention to the issue and curtail violence against women.

“As we move into 2021, you will see renewed campaigns within the Royal Bahamas Police Force, as well as under the umbrella of the NNWC — a renewed effort, a renewed campaign — to stamp out violence against women,” he said.

“The time has long come for us to focus more upon it because it is important to all of us.”

https://ewnews.com/zonta-makes-presentation-to-national-neighbourhood-watch-council

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The Zonta Club of Joliet Area, USA, sponsored a winter coat drive from 30 November through 10 December to benefit Morning Star Mission, which provides food for the hungry, clothes for the needy, and shelter for homeless men, women, children and families in Joliet and Will County.

“Zonta of Joliet Area welcomes this opportunity to be of service and partner with Morning Star Mission to provide coats for those in need,” says President Helen Hester Ross. “Morning Star Mission needs coats for men, women and children of all ages and sizes. We want to help replenish their supply by donating new or gently used coats. Join us in our mission to help.”

http://thetimesweekly.com/news/2020/dec/01/zonta-coat-drive-and-16-day-activism/

Domestic violence advocates and experts will break the silence around abuse towards women at an event in Tauranga this week.

At Breaking the Silence, organised by Zonta Club of Tauranga, New Zealand, attendees will have the opportunity to hear from four New Zealand leaders working alongside people who are the victims of domestic violence.

Zonta Club of Tauranga president Leigh Murdoch says the speakers will talk about the impact domestic violence can have on women, children, grandparents and the wider community.

Speakers include NZ Police family harm intervention coordinator for Western Bay of Plenty Adrian Tukaki and societal change leader at Tautoko Mai Sexual Harm Support Julie Sach.

Family violence activist David White will also speak at the forum. In 2009, David and Pam’s daughter Helen was murdered by her husband.

Once the trauma and drama of the Criminal Court process was over, David and Pam faced a further eight years in the Family Court settling disputes for the children.

David has written two books, “Helen. The Helen Meads Tragedy” and “Family Violence. Lifting New Zealand’s Dark Cloud.”

David has actively campaigned against Family Violence since 2011.

The event is being held as part of the Zonta International campaign 16 Days of Activism.

https://www.sunlive.co.nz/news/257698-breaking-silence-on-domestic-violence.html