The Star: November 23, 2023

Thursday November 23 2023 The Star
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
NEWS 21
City to glow orange with hope
EXPECT AN orange glow over
the city later this month as Zonta
International marks its 16-day
campaign of activism opposing
violence towards women and
girls.
Christchurch’s four Zonta
clubs are among 28 in New
Zealand which will host events
between Saturday and December
10 to raise awareness of genderbased
violence and fundraise
for organisations that support
victims of abuse.
As part of the campaign, many
of the city’s landmark buildings
and structures will be lit up in
orange to send a clear, visible
message for a better future for
women and girls.
Among the buildings to be lit
up are the Isaac Theatre Royal,
the Christchurch Art Gallery,
the Bridge of Remembrance,
the Bowker Fountain, Vaka a
Hine artwork on Worcester St,
the town hall fountain, Cashel
Mall, New Regent St, the Fanfare
Sculpture on the Northern
Motorway, the Christchurch
Casino, the New Brighton Pier
and the Christchurch Airport
overbridge. In addition, there
will be orange influences on
structures like the planter boxes
on Victoria and Hereford Sts,
and displays in at least four city
libraries.
Christchurch South Zonta
LIGHTS: As part of the ‘Zonta says no to violence against women’ campaign, buildings in the city have previously been lit
up in orange.
Club advocacy chair Catherine
Goodwin said the New Zealand
domestic violence statistics make
for troubling reading.
“Good Shepherd New Zealand
research suggests one in three
New Zealand women have
experienced physical or sexual
intimate partner violence in their
lifetime,” she said.
“When psychological abuse is
added (where economic harm
sits), this increases to one in two.
“Internationally, up to 50
per cent of sexual assaults are
committed against girls under
16 years of age. Just imagine if
this was your daughter, your
granddaughter or your sister.”
Goodwin said the colour
orange symbolises a brighter
future, free of violence
and gender-based control,
particularly for women and girls,
and is a powerful display of hope.
“It is also a clear message that,
as a society, we do not condone
abuse.”
The lighting up of buildings
worldwide by Zonta International
began in 2012 to mark
the organisation’s 16 days of
awareness against gender-based
violence.
“We hope that this campaign
shows victims that living with
abuse, in any form, is unacceptable
and that there are people
and organisations within our
community that care for their
well-being and are there to support
them,” said Goodwin.
The campaign launch is open
to the public and will be held
tonight at the Christchurch Art
Gallery from 6-8pm.
“This will be a wonderful
networking event in the iconic
art gallery foyer, with speakers
talking briefly on the different
perspectives addressing this
challenging societal issue,”
Goodwin said.
•Tickets cost $40 and
are available at
www.eventbrite.co.nz
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