KATHMANDU: On the occasion of the 25th year of '16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign' — observed from November 25 to December 10 — the Zonta Club of Kathmandu launched a badge on November 18 to "raise awareness about the activism on Violence Against Women."

As per a press release issued by the Club, the badge will be worn throughout the 16 days by many men and women in Kathmandu showing their support to the cause.

'16 Days of Activism', initiated in 1991, begins on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (November 25) and concludes on International Human Rights Day (December 10).

The badge which reads 'Zonta says No to Violence against Women' was launched in the presence of Bandana Rana, elected member of United Nations committee for The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and Strategic Director of Saathi, Miss Nepal 2016 Asmi Shrestha, social activist Chari Maya Tamang, and Sashi Adhikari, Assistant Dean, Faculty of Law, Tribhuvan University and member of Supreme Court Bar Association, adds the release.

"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," Zonta Club of Kathmandu President Shreejana Rana has been quoted in the release as saying during the launch.

"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 families."

Zonta Club of Kathmandu is a legally registered NGO in Kathmandu working on the advancement of the status of women with the objective to improve the economic, education, health, and issues related to youth and violence against women at the national and local levels through service and advocacy.

The launch of the badge is a part of 'Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women' — a Zonta International campaign that started in November 2012 to raise awareness of and increase actions to end violence against women and girls around the world.