Remarks at the raising of the Zonta International flag on the community flagpole at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre, November 24 to begin 16 days of Activism: Zonta says NO to Violence Against Women.
“Violence against women and girls is one of the most pervasive human rights violations and a global epidemic. It knows no national or cultural barriers; it takes place at home, in the workplace and in open spaces, and affects millions of women and girls in peacetime and conflict. It includes psychological, physical and sexual violence, and harmful practices such as rape, female genital cutting, child marriage and human trafficking. Violence against women and girls threatens countries, inhibits economic progress, and prevents women from contributing to their community and creating better lives for themselves and their families.
We at Zonta International do not accept this, and are working to eradicate violence against women locally and internationally through service and advocacy.
Our ongoing service efforts are demonstrated through numerous local projects and programs, through the Zonta International Strategies to End Violence against Women program and through Zonta's partnerships with the United Nations and its agencies. Our ongoing advocacy impact is built around the advocacy campaign “Zonta says NO to Violence Against Women”. Launched in 2012, the campaign has raised awareness of the global pandemic of women's rights violations and has united Zonta clubs worldwide in conducting impactful advocacy actions to fight violence against women and gender inequality. We raise the Zonta flag here today to launch the 16 days of Activism, November 25 to December 10 campaign, Zonta says NO to Violence Against Women.
While we are here to launch Zonta International's annual campaign we also want to encourage support for World AIDS Day on December 1st and Human Rights Day on December 10th."
