Zonta Club of Neustadt an der Weinstrasse lit multiple local buildings in orange

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Members of the Zonta Club of Neustadt an der Weinstrasse, District 28, are proud that they managed to illuminate numerous public and private buildings for one week in orange light in honor of the Zonta Says NO campaign and Zonta’s centennial anniversary.

The Hambach Castle, the Hornbach Tower, the Cineplex, the Wolfsburg, the town hall and other city buildings, the Stiftskirche and the Gimmeldinger church, along with many other buildings, were illuminated.

The lighting of the Hambach Castle was particularly successful as it is one of the most important symbols of German democracy. At the Hambacher Fest in May 1832, the German flag was carried in black, red and gold for the first time. Which is why the Hambach Castle is known as the cradle of German democracy. This was very important as a symbol of the campaign.

Bombay clubs advocate for ending child marriage alongside local students

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The Zonta Says NO Campaign for the Zonta clubs of Bombay I and Bombay III, District 25, commenced on 4 December with members of both the clubs saying no to violence against women and child marriage.

The students of Lady Engineer School, both girls and boys in ninth and tenth grade classes participated in the program.  Club members showed a video of Kirti Bharti of Saarthi Trust, who is a warrior against child marriage and interviews of girls rescued from child marriage and now leading a better life. These depicted the ill effects of child marriage and created social awareness.  

Next, slides were projected with various captions saying no to violence and child marriage and advocating for the protection and safety of women.

The students were asked to share their views and it was nice to see the boys equally and enthusiastically participating along with the girls.  

Two dances were performed by the students. One depicted violence against women, particularly rape and how to fight it and the second focused on women’s empowerment.

A pledge was taken by the students, teachers and Zonta members to stop violence and child marriage whenever and wherever witnessed or heard. The session ended with the dance participants receiving certificates of appreciation.

Zonta Club of Bombay I and III host workshop for Zonta Says NO event

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On 9 December, both the Zonta Club of Bombay I and Zonta Club of Bombay III, District 25, joined with the NGO Save the Children India to host a talk and workshop .

Bombay I & III_2The workshop was conducted by the Counselor Ms. Reshma and her team and it focused on sexual harassment at home and outside the home, as well as legal and social recourse to combat the issue. A few Bolllywood songs were shown to the girls and questions were asked and they were made to understand the reality of violence against women and girls. The presidents of the clubs shared the importance of changing their point of views or understanding of the situation in the community.

The participants of the event were girls under 18 from four community centers and shelter homes in Mumbai. It was a very interesting and interactive session with active participation from all, including the Zonta members.

On 10 December there was session focused on sex and gender and for the finale, both clubs sponsored gifts which were distributed to about 130 girls from their shelter homes and community centers.

District 15 members advocate ending child marriage at Michigan State Capitol

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D15 Advocacy Day 1

On 4 December, members from Zonta International District 15 gathered at the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing for its first-ever advocacy day.

Zonta members met with representatives and staffers who did not know that minors can get married in Michigan. Rep. Kara Hope, a cosponsor of one of the bills to end child marriage, and Rep. Daire Rendon, who sits on the judiciary committee, came to the district’s legislative briefing.

District 15 Governor-Elect Deanna Cambridge joined Rep. Sarah Anthony at a press conference and Anthony welcomed Zontians to the House gallery during the legislative session.

Click here to see more photos.

In the news: Zonta Club of Pontiac-North Oakland recognizes domestic violence and assault victims in a courthouse display

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During the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the Zonta Club of Pontiac-North Oakland, USA, District 15, had a display at the Oakland County Courthouse.

The display included silhouettes of women, which represented the 17 Oakland County residents who died from domestic violence last year.

There were also 42 paper dolls, each representing 100 assaults, for a total of more than 4,200 reported assaults last year.

“This is nothing to be proud of. Domestic Violence is not about love; it is all about power,” Gail Johnson, Zonta Club of Pontiac-North Oakland president, told The Oakland Press.

Zonta Club of Melbourne spreads awareness of ending gender-based violence during 16 Days of Activism

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The Zonta Club of Melbourne, USA, District 11, participated in a variety of activities during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.

Inspired by other  Zonta clubs around the world that lit up buildings and monuments in orange, club members asked business owners to light up their storefronts in orange to show their support for the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign. They passed out fliers and were featured in the local newspaper. The club had a great response to this initiative.

Melbourne Regional Center

The club also took out billboards along the I-95 Corridor from 25 November through 10 December. Interstate 95 is the main Interstate Highway on the East Coast of the U.S., running from Route 1 in Miami, Florida, to the Houlton–Woodstock Border Crossing with New Brunswick, Canada, and is used by millions of people daily.

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On 24 November, the club participated in the Space Coast Basket Brigade, which provided 3,346 local families with everything they need to prepare a traditional Thanksgiving meal. Club members volunteered in their orange Zonta Says NO t-shirts, using the opportunity to spread awareness of the importance of ending violence against women.

The club also involved high school students in its efforts. Members of the Melbourne High School Z Club arranged for their school’s electronic billboard to encourage students to wear orange and coordinated a presentation with Sheriff Wayne Ivey and a human trafficking survivor to speak to the students on 10 December.

Zonta Club of Trenton/Mercer brings awareness to Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women with bus ad

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As part of Zonta International’s 100 years of empowering women, the Zonta Club of Trenton/Mercer, USA, District 3, purchased an ad to be displayed on a shuttle bus that services Trenton, New Jersey, and surrounding towns.

The club wanted to help empower women and children by providing a hotline number for victims of violence while also providing information for those who want to join Zonta in the fight to end violence against women and children. The ad will run for four weeks.

In the news: Zonta Club of Canberra Breakfast Inc marks this year’s victims of domestic violence at a somber gathering

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The Zonta Club of Canberra Breakfast Inc in Australia, District 24, held a somber service this week to memorialize the 52 women and eight men who died from intimate partner violence.

A garland of orange flowers shaped the word NO, the color a reminder of the fifth UN sustainable development goal of equality. December 10 also marks the conclusion of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, under the theme, “Orange the World: Generation Equality Stands against Rape!”

Continue reading about the impactful event.

In the news: Zonta Club of London turns Marble Arch orange for Human Rights Day

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ZC of London March Arch

The Zonta Club of London, U.K., District 29, turned the city’s Marble Arch orange in commemoration of Human Rights Day, 10 December.

Dianne Jeans, the club’s president, said: “Violence against women and girls around the world is one of the most devastating human rights violations in our world today.

“It affects women regardless of background or education and often takes place behind closed doors. It can come in many forms, including physical, sexual, or psychological violence, as well as economic abuse and exploitation.”

Continue reading about the club’s efforts to advocate for ending violence against women and girls.

In the news: Zonta Club of Tema partners with UNFPA for a billboard to bring awareness to ending child marriage

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In Ghana, 21% of girls are married before their 18th birthday.

The Zonta Club of Tema, District 18, partnered with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for a billboard to bring awareness to child marriage during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.

Naana Aboagye Asare,  the club’s president, said drastic measures must be taken by stakeholders to fight against child marriage, which is destroying girls’ potentials.

“Statistics on child marriage in Ghana [were] alarming and needed to be [nipped] in the bud,” Asare said.

UNFPA Ghana Gender Programmes Analyst, Selina Owusu, who led in the unveiling of the billboard, said child marriage was a serious national issue that needs to be addressed immediately.

She called on all stakeholders and Ghanaians to join in the fight against child marriage and gender-based violence in the country.

Continue reading about the initiative here.