OGDENSBURG -- The Ogdensburg City Council and Mayor Wayne L. Ashley unanimously issued a proclamation Monday to the Ogdensburg Area Zonta club in support of their annual Zonta says no to violence against women campaign.

The initiative is part of a global campaign, which runs from Nov. 25 to Dec. 10, and is meant to create awareness of violence against women and girls locally, nationally and internationally.

The 16 Days of Activism, begin with Nov. 25, which is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and ends with Dec., 10, the International Human Rights Day. The message is that women’s rights are human rights. During the 16 days, more than 30,000 Zontians in 66 countries around the globe will stage events to raise awareness of this issue through local service and advocacy initiatives.

Orange is the official color of this campaign and community members are encouraged to join in by lighting up homes and businesses in orange. City Hall will support the effort by lighting up its windows with orange bulbs.

The text of the Proclamation is as follows:

“Whereas, Violence against women is a worldwide pandemic – it crosses every social and economic class, every religion, race and ethnicity; and

Whereas, at least one out of every three women worldwide have experience violence during their lifetime; and

Whereas, Zonta International supports projects that engage and empower the global community to end violence against women; and

Whereas, “Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women” is a Zonta International campaign to raise awareness of and increase actions to end violence against women and girls around the world; and

Now, Therefore, I, Wayne L Ashley, do hereby proclaim November 25, 2017 through December 10, 2017 as the “Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women Campaign” and encourage all people to recognize and help end violence against women and girls.”

For information, message the Zonta Club on Facebook at Ogdensburg Area Zonta Club.