Violent online behavior ranges from online harassment and public shaming to the desire to inflict physical harm including sexual assaults, murders and induced suicides. With more access then ever to the internet, cyber-violence against women and girls has taken on a global dimension.
13,310,500, or one in three of the total global population of women, have experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, or sexual violence by a non-partner. In some countries, that the number can be as high as 70% of women.
When sexual harassment is included, the number is much higher. Rates of depression, having an abortion, and acquiring HIV are higher in women who have experienced this type of violence compared to women who have not.
On 25 November 2020, the Zonta Club Sanremo, Italy, distributed more than 20,000 bags of bread to supermarkets, bakeries and bars in the Sanremo area with the words PANE AMORE E RISPETTO (Bread, Love and Respect) and Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women.
The medieval castle, Munot, in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, was illuminated in orange to raise awareness of gender-based violence. Members of the Zonta Club Schaffhausen and the Soroptimist Club Schaffhausen, and the staff of the local offices against domestic violence, held a vigil on the stairs to the castle in the evening of 25 November with media there to cover the event.
The Zonta Club of Maryborough, Australia, is partnering with four senior schools (Grades 7-12) for this year’s 16 Days of Activism. Students from Maryborough State High School, Aldridge State High School, St. Mary’s College and Riverside College are displaying the color orange in unique ways to raise awareness of violence against women and girls.
The Maryborough City Hall will be lit up orange, and a Zonta Says NO banner will be displayed on major streets throughout the 16 Days. The club will also be placing ‘orange ladies’ around town as reminders that violence against women is an issue in the local community, but there is hope that with education and support this violence may be recognized and eliminated.
The Zonta Club of London and Savera UK lit up their city in orange to bring awareness to the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence and Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign.
Landmarks included the Liverpool Town Hall, St George’s Hall, World Museum Liverpool, Merseyside Police Headquarters, the Greystone Footbridge in Knowsley and the Mersey Gateway Bridge in Halton.
Dianne Jeans, Advocacy Committee, Zonta Club of London, said: “Zonta International is dedicated to standing up to gender-based violence through its Zonta says NO campaign. During the 2020 UN 16 days of activism Zontians all around the globe will be taking part in events to ‘orange the world’ and shine a light on the hidden pandemic of violence against women. Here in the UK, the Zonta Club of London is encouraging local councils to light landmark structures orange to provide a symbol of hope and support for those that are affected by violence every day. We applaud the actions in Liverpool to highlight this issue.”
https://theguideliverpool.com/landmarks-in-liverpool-city-region-landmarks-will-light-up-orange-in-call-to-end-violence-against-women/
Since 2012, our Zonta clubs and members have been increasing awareness of gender-based violence to their communities as part of the Zonta Says NO campaign. Here are just some examples of what Zontians have done to show their support in ending violence against women and girls.
Rita Dy and Lorna Kapunan of the Zonta Club of Makati Ayala, Philippines, speak with CNN Philippines about the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign and how their club is participating in the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.
As part of its Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign, the Zonta Club of Montevideo, Uruguay, organized a talk on human trafficking and migration.
The event was conducted by Tanja Pacifico, the representative for Uruguay of the International Organization for Migration. Zontians and guests from Zonta clubs in South America and other Spanish-speaking clubs attended.
In 2019, the Zonta Club of Sault Ste Marie Area highlighted the issue of gender-based violence with a display at the public library of 48 pairs of women’s shoes, representing the 48 women who lost their lives in the preceding year in Ontario to intimate partner violence.
“This was a stunning and moving display. Orange is the international colour used by the United Nations and Zonta International for violence against women and girls”, said Sharon Kirkpatrick, the local club president. “Because of COVID-19 this year, we are taking the campaign online, showing 37 pairs of orange shoes in various locations in the area. In the past year, the Femicide list from the Ontario Association of Transition and Interval Homes (OAITH) reported 37 fatalities. We want people to understand that these orange shoes represent real women- our daughters, mothers, sisters, aunts and friends.”
https://www.sootoday.com/more-local/notice-orange-shoes-around-city-hall-and-the-boardwalk-heres-why-2907921
Join us in saying NO 