On 14 December, members of the Zonta Club of Milano Sant’ Ambrogio, Milan, Italy participated in the “Hands off women” campaign launched for the second year by Zonta District 30, Area 3 joint with District 28 Area 3 and the Italian Rugby Federation.

Members joined the junior rugby team “Grande Milano” on the field for a minute of silence to increase awareness of ending violence against women. For the second year in a row, members chose to hold the ceremony with the junior team (16-18 years of age), and have the young captains read the messages about the initiative. Members believe that the young generations are the best vehicle of promotion to fight violence against women.

The event was enthusiastically shared by the players, as well as by the local representatives of the rugby federation and the parents of the players, who proposed to hold another event at Women’s Day in March, involving also the girls’ rugby team and local schools as spectators.

Read an article about the event written by the Milan post (3,500-4,500 readers per day) http://www.milanopost.info/2014/11/25/zonta-says-no-violence-women-campagna-2014-per-combattere-la-violenza-contro-le-donne/.

Other minor initiatives were taken by club members during the 16 Days of Activism, such as attending conferences on Violence against women organized by peer associations in Milan and attending self-defense classes.