United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women
UN Women have released a vision and 100-day action plan for advancing gender equality.
A briefing has been released written by Michelle Bachelet, Under-Secretary-General and executive Director of UN Women was born in Santiago, Chile, in 1951. She is trained as a doctor with graduate studies in Military Sciences. In 2002 she was directed to head the Defence Ministry of Chile. She was the first woman in both Chile and Latin America to hold such a position. In 2006, she became the first woman to be elected President in the history of the Republic of Chile. She served for her full term (four years), ending in March 2010.
Zonta District 12 Announces Platform for Advocacy
Zonta District 12 Governor, Kay Meyer has released the call to conference for the District 12 meeting held in Rapid City, South Dakota. Among the agenda items includes the District's "Platform for Advocacy." Advocating for a cause, whether expressing an opinion or endorsing proposed legislation, requires the ability to act or respond in a timely manner. This platform identifies three board areas in which Zonta clubs under District 12 may advocate efficiently and effectively. Zontians advocate at local, regional, national and internationally to promote the advancement of women across the globe.
Domestic Violence Awareness
In 2004, the Zonta Club of Billings adopted "domestic violence prevention" as one of our main areas of focus for service during a three-year period of 2004-2007. The long-range goal was to implement activities in Yellowstone County focused on domestic violence prevention and integrate those activities into coordinated community responses. The short-range goals were to partner with existing agencies currently involved in community response in an effort to increase prevention activities; to establish a "speakers bureau" of trained Zontians who provided informational talks on the prevention of domestic violence; and to develop and implement a prevention of domestic violence media campaign based on the needs identified.
WHAT IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?
Domestic violence can take many forms of physical, sexual, emotional, economic and spiritual harm. Physical abuse begins with the first slap and can end with the victim's death. While physical and sexual abuse are more likely to be prosecuted in criminal court, the effects of emotional, economic and spiritual abuse tends to be just as traumatic and usually longer lasting.
WHY SHOULD YOU CARE?
Not only does society pay with lost lives and moral responsibility, but family violence also costs the nation from $5 to $10 billion annually in medical expenses, police and court costs, shelter and foster care, sick leave, absenteeism and non-productivity. It affects us all.
INTERESTING FACTS.
HELP LINE INFORMATION
Domestic Violence Support & Rape Crisis Hotline: (406) 259-8100
YWCA Victim's Hotline: (406) 259-8100
Billings Clinic Emergency: (406) 657-4150
St. Vincent Healthcare Emergency: (406) 237-4100
Domestic Violence Hotline: (800) 799-SAFE (7233)
Elder Abuse Prevention: (406) 896-9696
Child Abuse Hotline: (866) 896-9696
Mental Health Center: (406) 252-5658
Campaign Inspires Others: "OPEN YOUR EYES"
Dr. Sarah Keller was a Zonta member at the time and utilized her contacts as a communications professor to conduct an active campaign. Among the outreach strategies was a series of billboards and commercials that aired in the Billings area. Her class at MSU Billings won four ADDY® awards for their work in promoting awareness of this subject.
The campaign goals were to reduce violence through education, and to put survivors of violence in touch with support services available through Domestic and Sexual Violence Services of Carbon County (DSVS) and the YWCA Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Program of Billings.
DSVS and the YWCA strive to reduce domestic and sexual violence by providing support services to women, children, and families impacted by this violence. The YWCA provides shelter to approximately 500 Billings-area women each year, and reaches numerous others through its hotline number and support groups. The DSVS provided service to 32 people in 2005, and reached 654 people thru educational programs.