Today is the International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women.

Think about that for a moment.

In Canada women won the right to vote depending on the province you lived in, 1916/1917/1918 except in Quebec when that became a right in 1940.

We celebrate annually on October 18 when women were included in the legal definition of “persons” in 1929.

It wasn’t until into the 1970’s that a woman could apply for and receive a credit card in her name.

1975 was International Year of the Woman

We can buy property in our name, work while pregnant, be a leader in our religious community, play professional sports, a career as the nightly news anchor, keep our own name after marriage, Chief Executive officer of Multi-national corporations, be Mayor of our community and even Prime Minister of our country.

We fought hard for each of these rights that today so many take for granted.

We have come so far, yet we still have so far to go.

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. Zonta International’s ongoing service efforts are demonstrated through numerous local projects and programs and through partnerships with the United Nations and its agencies.

Our Zonta International President Sharon Langenbeck says “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. 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."

Today starts the beginning of the 16 days of advocacy Zonta Says NO to violence against women. This campaign aims to inspire action and end violence against women and girls around the world

This campaign includes November 25 the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, December 1 World Aids Day, in Canada December 6 the National Day of Mourning and December 10 Human Rights Day.

We, the Zonta Club of Owen Sound along with our municipal government, community partners and you the public will raise our Zonta Flag today. The flag will fly for the next two weeks to bring awareness to this cause. Zonta International’s goal, and ultimately ours with our flag, is to sensitize the public to violence against women as a human rights violation and to raise awareness of Zonta’s advocacy efforts to prevent violence against women and girls.

We in Grey and Bruce are so fortunate to have such an excellent Women’s Centre. Shelter for women and children at the time of their greatest need. Our Zonta Club has helped support the Centre for many years buying pajamas, providing comfort kits, gifts and gift certificates so children could give their mom a Christmas gift, we funded the redecorating of one of the intake offices and annually provide money from our Service Budget and the sale of our Yellow Roses on Rose Day at the International Women’s Day Breakfast.

The Zonta club also presented the Women’s Centre Grey Bruce with a cheque for $803.46. 

“Zonta International envisions a world in which women’s rights are recognized as human rights and every woman is able to achieve her full potential. In such a world, women have access to all resources and are represented in decision-making positions on an equal basis with men. In such a world, no woman lives in fear of violence.”

source: media release, Zonta Club of Owen Sound