House of Assembly Pins Members in Solidarity
The Zonta Club of Tortola held a brief, symbolic pinning ceremony at the Fifth House of Assembly this week, presenting orange pins to Members present in support of the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign. The Government press release adds new detail and contact information about the event and underscores the hope that the pinning will become an annual tradition in the House of Assembly. Updated reporting reiterates that Zonta International coordinates the local initiative each year under the “Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women” banner (VINO), and provides public contacts for further information (BVI Government).
The Zonta Club of Tortola staged a brief, symbolic pinning ceremony at the House of Assembly this week as part of the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign. Each Member of the Fifth House of Assembly who was present received an orange pin during the informal event, presented under the banner of Zonta International’s "Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women" initiative (BVI Government press release).
Speaker of the House, Honourable Corine N. George-Massicote, described the occasion as an expression of leadership responsibility and solidarity. "This brief and informal pinning ceremony, where each Member received an orange pin, symbolises our solidarity with the global campaign led by Zonta International.
I am honoured to support this meaningful initiative and hopeful that it will become an annual tradition in the House of Assembly, strengthening our collective commitment as leaders of the Virgin Islands to end violence against women and girls," she said in remarks carried by the House of Assembly release (BVI Government; VINO).
The 16 Days campaign runs from 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, through 10 December, Human Rights Day. Launched in 1991 by the Centre for Women’s Global Leadership, the campaign is observed in more than 180 countries worldwide, a fact confirmed in both the Government release and local reporting (BVI Government; VINO).
Locally, Zonta International leads the initiative each year under the theme "Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women," emphasising prevention, education and community engagement as pillars for preventing and eliminating gender-based violence (VINO). The orange ribbon and pin worn during the campaign serve as a unifying symbol and a visible pledge to work toward a future free from gender-based violence (BVI Government).
For residents of the British Virgin Islands, the pinning ceremony highlights local engagement with a global movement and underscores the role public institutions can play in awareness, prevention and survivor support. The Zonta Club of Tortola has been active in advocacy and community outreach, and the House of Assembly’s participation is intended to raise the profile of the issue at the highest levels of local government (BVI Government).
Community organisations, faith groups and individuals are encouraged to mark the 16 Days by wearing orange, attending local events, supporting survivors and sharing information about resources. The Government’s press release lists Giovanni Herbert, Public Relations Officer, House of Assembly, as a contact for more information: Telephone: 1 (284) 468-6909; Email: gherbert@gov.vg (BVI Government).
The Government release also provides additional media and service contacts, including BVIGovernment@dgagroup.com for international media enquiries and the Government of the Virgin Islands general line at 1 (284) 468-3701, with a WhatsApp number 1 (284) 468-9760 for broader inquiries and service bookings (BVI Government).
Updated reporting from Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) clarifies that Zonta International coordinates the annual initiative in the Virgin Islands and reinforces that prevention, education and community engagement remain central to efforts to end violence against women and girls locally.
The combined coverage from the House of Assembly and local media signals an intent by elected leaders to keep gender-based violence on the public agenda (VINO; BVI Government).
Primary source: BVI Government