Submitted by Zonta Club of South Puget Sound
Recently the Zonta Club of South Puget Sound celebrated their 25th birthday, and the 101st birthday of Zonta International. Zontians work to empower women through service and advocacy, and annually participate in the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, running from November 25, the International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women, to December 10, Human Rights Day. Especially during this period, we work to inform all about the on-going Zonta Says No to Violence Against Women campaign.
Thirty-five percent of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence. The Zonta Club of South Puget Sound (ZSPS) works to provide survivors support through a variety of tangible means. ZSPS has helped fund sexual assault examinations (SANE) at the Providence St. Peter Sexual Assault Clinic and Child Maltreatment Center, and provided funds and goods to assist SafePlace.
“As the world faces the COVID-19 pandemic, instances of gender-based violence are on the rise. Now, more than ever, it is essential that we work together to end violence against women and girls,” said Zonta International President Sharon Langenbeck. “Through the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign, Zonta clubs around the world are uniting to raise their voices to bring awareness to this issue and advocate on behalf of gender-based violence survivors.”
This year with the COVID-19 pandemic, local activities for the campaign will be virtual. Everyone is invited to visit the Zonta of South Puget Sound website and/or the ZontaSouthPugetSound Facebook page each day from November 25-December 10 to become educated about the extent of gender-based violence and child, early and forced marriage, and actions one can take to make a difference.
ZSPS encourages new members, all men, women and transgendered individuals are welcome who are interested in our mission: to improve the lives of women in communities throughout the world..by advocating for women’s issues…by contributing our time, talent & treasure…by partnering with others in the community to achieve our common goals…by fostering fellowship through our service projects. The club meets currently via Zoom for a business meeting the first Saturday morning of the month and a program meeting the third Thursday evening of the month. Service activities run throughout the year including providing diapers to Harvest House, a scholarship at SPSCC, and Books for Babies at Mason County General Hospital.
Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women began in November 2012. To learn more and join the campaign, please visit the Zonta Says No website. Zonta International’s ongoing efforts to end violence against women and girls at the international level are carried out through the Zonta International Strategies to end Violence Against Women (ZISVAW) program and through Zonta’s partnerships with the United Nations and its agencies. Since the program’s inception in 1999, more than $9.5 million has been provided to support projects to prevent and end violence against women and girls in 46 countries.
