Gender-based violence advocacy campaign starts today

Based on the belief no woman or girl should hide in the shadows of guilt, Jefferson City is taking a stand on eliminating violence against women through 16 days of advocacy that begin today.

The 16 days of advocacy are a part of the "Zonta Says No" Campaign, an international campaign to raise awareness of and increase actions to end violence against women and girls around the world.

During Monday's Jefferson City Council meeting, Mayor Carrie Tergin proclaimed today as Jefferson City's official day for the start of the campaign.

Through efforts of the local Zonta Club, Rape and Abuse Crisis Services (RACS), Lincoln University and the Cole County Sheriff Department, today-Dec. 10 is dedicated to raising awareness about women who have been battered and abused.

For each day of advocacy, there will be silhouettes of women with their stories on them around the city.

During the meeting, Tergin told the audience no one person, organization, agency or community can eliminate gender-based violence on their own.

"We must educate the entire population about what can be done to prevent such violence, support victims, survivors, and their families and increase support agencies providing services to those community members," Tergin said.

Zonta President Peggy Jensen, Ramona Huckstep and her daughters all stood together proudly as the mayor read the proclamation.

At the high school level, Huckstep's daughter, Logan, has been involved in the movement to raise awareness about human trafficking through a chapter at Helias High School.

"Even though I have only been a part of the Z-club for a short time, I can't wait to see what we do next," Huckstep said.