The Zonta Club of Joliet Area, District 6, is drawing attention from their community in two different ways during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.
On 25 November, club members will shine orange lights on the Will County courthouse. Additionally, throughout the 16 days, members will post signs throughout town with the Zonta Says NO message.
Each November, representatives from the Zonta Club of Swan Hills Inc, District 23, join the annual Midland March That Matters to protest against violence against women.
The photo shows, from left, veteran Zontians Barbara Goulden, Ruth Thomas, Elaine Newman and friend of Zonta Vicki Thomas helping to lead the way.
On 13 November in the little city of Meaux in France, more than 500 people gathered for a night walk as part of the Zonta Says NO campaign.
The Zonta Club of Meaux Et Region, District 29, was thankful to the City for participating in the walk and helping to raise awareness of the problem of violence against women.
Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the start of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. From now through 10 December, Zontians worldwide will say NO to violence against women. Join us here.
The Zonta Club of Cebu 1 recognized the 16 Days of Activism and Zonta’s dedication to ending child marriage with a series of awareness programs.
On 8 November, Zontians held a commemoration event recognizing Zonta’s Centennial, as well as the 50th anniversary of the Zonta Club of Cebu I. This event included an “opening salvo” held at the Ayala Mall to an audience of about 1,000 people, including community leaders.
Also on 8 November, a research-interactive forum discussed the roots of child marriage.
A play was also presented that focused on how early pregnancy can lead to child marriage. This was attended by about 500 people.
On 29 November, about 200 Zontians and guests celebrated its golden year, featuring the Hall of Fame of Past Presidents from 1981 to 2018 and their projects that empowered women to spearhead prevention of violence against women. There were also poster exhibits focused on ending child marriage.
The largest assemblage was of 5,000 students, teachers and Zontians on 10 December at the University of San Jose Recoletos Coliseum. This was during the event “Shout Out NO to Child Marriage.” The event was covered by a regional tv network, as well as print media.
Members of the club say this series of integrated programs on child marriage had an impact on the community, which resulted in the formation of a new Z Club, comics serials, oratorical contests and an international forum on women’s transformative leadership.
The Zonta Club of Kennemerland-Zuid Area, District 29, took part in the 16 Days of Activism by using orange lights to light up a local tower.
The tower of the St. Bavo Church in Haarlem, Netherlands was illuminated with a spectacular orange-colored floodlight.
Club members said they hoped the color would stand out and be recognized as a color meant to warn. Everyone recognizes it as the color of traffic signals which are meant to warn us.
Mayor Jos Wienen kindly connected two orange cables, setting the tower ablaze. Wienen said he was pleased to be present at the opening ceremony, saying: “We do not always realize what is taking place outside the public view, in private relationships. Every year at least 25 women in the Netherlands die as a result of domestic violence. From November 25 until December 10, also Haarlem will pay attention to these problems.”
One may wonder why orange was chosen as the color for this campaign for a hopeful future without violence against women and girls. Club members say the answer is that in orange the colors red, the physical, and yellow, the emotional, are joined.
The tower of the St. Bavo Church remained lit in orange light until 10 December.
Members of the Zonta Club of Mangawhai, District 16, acknowledged the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence with three main activities.
Members knit-bombed a large tree at their local library and arts center complex, painted men’s, women’s and children’s shoes orange and hung them along a fence with two wooden orange dolls and a sign, and held an orange themed Quiz Night.
During the 16 Days, a visiting English tourist was murdered in New Zealand. A vigil was held to remember Grace Millane throughout New Zealand and several Zontians took part in the local walk, holding candles and wearing their orange shirts.
The Zonta Club of Hong Kong East, District 17, partnered with two local groups to organize a traveling exhibit called “Say NO to Child Marriage” to educate shoppers and promote public awareness on the topic of child marriage.
The various posters provided information on violence against women and child marriage, emphasizing Zonta’s focus on ending child marriage and saying NO to child marriage.
The exhibit was displayed over 6 weekends, from 9 December 2018 to 13 January 2019, in various shopping malls.
Plan International served as the exhibit sponsor and LINK was the venue sponsor.
The Zonta Club of Liestal, District 28, displayed information on the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign at a local theater during the 16 Days of Activism.
The goal of the display was to inform moviegoers before they went into their movie.
An information box was placed in the foyer with brochures that included details on the intervention place and important points of contact for women looking for support.
The Zonta Club of Central Oklahoma, District 10, arranged to light the Oklahoma City Skydance Bridge orange in their Zonta Says NO campaign to turn their city orange during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.
Club members gathered on 29 November at the bridge, where they were joined by community partners from Palomar, Pivot, and the Oklahoma Coalition.
Members watched the bridge turn orange against the backdrop of the Oklahoma City skyline to make their statement that Zonta says NO to violence against women.
Join us in saying NO 