Lots Planned During the 16 Days of Activisim

Friday, 27 November 2015 08:29

A free public skate and a candlelight vigil are just two of the events planned over the next 14 days as part of Zonta Says No

The 16 Days of Activism to end gender violence has started.

Chair of the Advocacy Committee for Zonta Woodstock Allison Henkell was at the tree lighting ceremony at the Woodstock Police station that kicked off the Zonta Says No campaign. "We kind of take the 16 days to spotlight the need to reduce, eliminate, violence that is gender based violence. Which tends to be violence against women - not exclusively - but that tends to be the most prevalent. And we just take these 16 days to highlight it although it is a focus all year round."

During the 16 days, Zonta will be teaming up with several different community groups to help spread the message. Member of the Domestic Assault Review Team Oxford with Ingamo Homes Diane Harris says this is a message that needs to get through to everyone. "Gender violence is very very prevalent and it's on the rise. We need to bring awareness to it if we're going to bring an end to violence against women and the more people that we can get in on the subject, and get people talking the better it is. So I believe together we can end it, and we need a unified voice and a unified direction to go in."

This isn't just a Woodstock, or even just an Oxford County initiative - Henkell says they are happy to take part in such a large movement. "It's a Zonta International initiative to focus the Zonta Says No during the 16 Days of Activism. And the 16 Days of Activism is bigger than just Zonta - there are other community groups that use this as a time to highlight it. We have been actively doing it as Zonta Woodstock for the last four years."

Some of the events planned during the campaign include:

Dec 2 - International Day for the Abolition of Slavery: DASO & WPS sponsored Free Family Skate at the Woodstock Community Complex (4:14 - 5:15 p.m.)

Dec 6 - Remembrance of the Montreal Massacre: Oxford Regional Labour Council & Unifor Local Women's Committees Candlelight vigil at the Woodstock Courthouse, Ingersoll's Dewan Park, and Tillsonburg Clock Tower (6 p.m.)

Dec 11 - Celebrate International Human Rights Day: Ingamo Homes at the Woodstock Navy Vet vs. Tavistock Braves hockey game dispersing cards, cookies, and orange ribbons (6 p.m.)