As it was last year, the Allianz Arena was lit up in orange on 25 November as a signal against violence against women and girls. FC Bayern is therefore supporting the “Zonta says NO” campaign. Especially in these difficult times with coronavirus, quarantine and domestic isolation, it is more important than ever to raise awareness of this issue. 25 November is International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
The Allianz Arena will be lit up in orange from sunset at 4.25pm until 8pm, before it will turn red again for the evening’s Champions League match against Red Bull Salzburg, as it does whenever Bayern play. In addition to the Allianz Arena, other Munich landmarks that will be illuminated orange include the big wheel by Ostbahnhof, the Residenz Theatre, the Kammerspiele, the Künstlerhaus, the Documentation Centre for the History of National Socialism, the Literaturhaus, the Gasteig, BMW Welt, the Technical University, several ministries and the banner at the town hall.
Professor Dr. Hoda Tawfik, president of the Zonta Club München City: “Every three days a woman dies in Germany as a result of partner violence. A world in which women can express themselves freely and live without fear of violence… We have again moved far away from this goal around the world in the period of coronavirus. There have been reports of a worrying increase in cases of violence against women and girls during the pandemic. That has to stop! Zonta clubs around the world are sending out a message for the outlawing of violence against women with the campaign ‘Zonta says NO/Orange the World’. With the colour orange we collectively say ‘No’.”
Herbert Hainer, FC Bayern president: “International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is an annual reminder to us all. Gender-specific violence is a taboo subject in our society. FC Bayern wants to send out a signal for the protection of everyone who unfortunately cannot protect themselves as necessary. We want to stand up for this issue and raise awareness of it in the long term.”
In Germany, the global initiative is being coordinated by the union of German Zonta clubs, including four in Munich. The international campaign started in 2012 and has been supporting the United Nations’ ‘16 Days of Activism’ from 25 November to 10 December each year since 2014 under the slogan ‘Orange the World’. There are 130 Zonta clubs participating across the country, and 1,200 in over 63 countries around the world.
The globally active non-partisan non-governmental organisation Zonta International has been working for over 100 years to improve the position of women in legal, political and economic terms. It is a non-partisan, non-denominational and ideologically neutral association of committed women from all over the world. You can find out more information about Zonta here.
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