As 2016 marks the 25th year of the “16 Days of Activism” (25 November-10 December) against gender-based violence campaign, Zonta Club of Kathmandu on Friday launched a badge to raise awareness on “Violence Against Women”.

CEDAW member Bandana Rana, Miss Nepal 2016 Asmi Shrestha and Chari Maya Tamang, among others, were present at the launch event.

“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 and affects millions of women and girls in peacetime and conflict. It includes physical and sexual violence, and harmful practices such as rape, female genital cutting 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,” said  Shreejana Rana, president of Zonta Club of Kathmandu at the launch event.

“Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women” is a Zonta International campaign to raise awareness of and increase actions to end violence against women and girls around the world. The campaign, which began in November 2012, features the service and advocacy actions of Zonta clubs and districts to prevent and end violence against women and girls in their local communities. 

From 2014, the campaign began to move from awareness raising activities to more impact oriented advocacy actions. The next step in 2016 will be able to achieve local and national government and community commitment. Therefore, Zonta Club of Kathmandu is engaging in advocacy activities to achieve awareness at national level. 

The campaign also highlights Zonta International’s ongoing efforts to end violence against women and girls through the Zonta International Strategies to End Violence against Women (ZISVAW) program and through Zonta’s partnerships with the United Nations and its agencies.