Throughout 16 Days of Activism Against Family Violence, the Zonta Club of Geelong will Orange the World in our community starting with its Annual Walk Against Family Violence.
In 2014, the United Nations UNiTE campaign called on governments, organisations and individuals across the world to ‘orange the world’ to raise public awareness about the issue of violence against women and girls.
Why orange? The colour orange symbolises a brighter future, free of violence.
Orange is used as the colour of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and has become synonymous with events during the 16 Days of Activism and is the dominant colour in the Zonta Says No to Violence Against Women logo.
Zonta Club of Geelong is working with several local organisations to light up the city for the 16 Days of Activism.
This year in town you will see buildings floodlit in orange (Barwon Water, Performing Arts Centre, University Hospital, Kardinia Park etc), some street lighting in orange, and displays of orange female figure cut outs in entrances to all local libraries and a variety of buildings drawing attention to the elimination of violence against women.
“We’ll all be there dressed in orange,” Zonta Geelong advocacy committee chair Debbie Schmidt said.
“We’re asking people to dress in orange to support turning our town orange. Even if you’re not wearing orange, you’ll be in a sea of orange.
“We’ve been working to build a better world for women and girls for 40 years. We’ll be putting out a statement every day on our Facebook page to call it (violence) out.
“Come down and walk and talk with us.”
Zonta’s third annual Walk Against Family Violence on Friday November 25 at Cunningham Pier from 5pm.
Everyone is invited to walk along the foreshore dressed in orange to show their support for this campaign.
After the walk there is a ‘Lived Experience’ art exhibition at A+B Deakin University gallery.
The campaign runs for 16 days until December 10, which is Human Rights day.
More information zontageelong.org.au
