16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence is an international campaign to challenge violence against women and girls. The campaign runs every year from 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 December, Human Rights Day. It was initiated in 1991 by the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute, held by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership at Rutgers University.
Since 2010 the Zonta Club of the Coos Bay Area has participated in this conscious raising campaign with candle light vigils on the Coos Bay Boardwalk, assembling “Dignity Bags” for the Safe Project, proclamations by county and city governments, and social media postings.
Child marriage is any formal or informal union where one or both are the parties are under 18 years old, according to Girls Not Brides. Early and forced marriage happens across countries, cultures and religions. Each year 12 million girls throughout the world are married before they turn 18 years old. Many times to men much older than themselves. Zonta strives to stop this human rights violation!