Zonta Club of Ottawa, Canada

Zonta Says NOW – Ending GBV

Ending Gender-Based Violence

Issue in Focus

Gender-based violence, specifically violence against women and girls, is a severe violation of human rights. Violence not only negatively affects women and girls; it also affects their families, communities and countries. 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 in conflict. Gender-based violence includes psychological, physical and sexual violence, and harmful practices such as intimate partner violence, sexual violence and harassment, child marriage, female genital mutilation and human trafficking, according to UN Women.

Zonta in Action

Zonta International envisions a world in which no woman lives in fear of violence. For more than 100 years, we have contributed to help achieve a world free of violence against women and girls through service and advocacy. Though many countries have laws against domestic violence, sexual assault and other forms of gender-based violence, there are challenges in implementing these laws.

We have a history of partnering with United Nations agencies or recognized NGOs on programs that promote and protect the human rights of all women and girls and reduce the incidence of violence. Zonta International currently supports the Global Programme to End Child Marriage, which brings together governments, civil society, families and young people in a collective effort to prevent girls from marrying too young and to support those already married as girls. Read more about the projects we have supported through the Zonta International Strategies to end Violence Against Women program (1996-2020).

Our ongoing advocacy impact is built around the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women advocacy campaign. 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.

During the 16 Days of Activism, 25 November-10 December, all Zonta clubs and districts are encouraged to take part in the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign and to take local, national and international actions to influence the making and implementation of laws, as well as changing gender-based attitudes and behaviors to end violence against women. Visit our Zonta Says No Stories page to learn about what our Zontians in Action do during this crucial time of awareness.

Throughout the year, we  encourage our members to take advocacy actions that work to promote the human rights of women, promote Sustainable Development Goal No. 5 “Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls” and end violence against women and girls.

The Zonta USA Advocacy Action Center is a tool for our members in the United States and other non-member individuals in the United States who share our commitment to take action and improve the lives of women and girls. All U.S. residents are invited to join more than 8,000 advocates across the nation to fight for legislation to address issues such as child marriage,  sexual assault on college and university campuses, the Equal Rights Amendment and other issues impacted women and girls.

Advocating for Gender Equality

Gender equality is a basic human right and its achievement has immense socioeconomic implications. Yet, gender inequalities are deeply rooted in every society.

Sustainable Development Goal No. 5 is to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. While progress has been made, no country in the world has achieved gender equality.

Zonta in Action

In 2024, the SDG Gender Index found that not one country is on track to attain gender equality by 2030. The Global Gender Gap Report 2023 estimates at the current rate of progress, it will take 131 years to reach full parity. While the global parity score has recovered to pre-pandemic levels, the overall rate of change has slowed down significantly. Zonta International has spent more than 100 years advocating for gender equality and continues to fight for the cause. Zonta International also invests in education programs and international services projects to empower women and provide them opportunities to live on an equal basis as men.

Zonta and its clubs advocate on a variety of issues related to gender equality and women’s empowerment through:

 

 

 

 

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