The Zonta Club I of Colombo, Sri Lanka, launched a public awareness campaign with a striking billboard at a prominent intersection, featuring impactful slogans advocating for their cause.
The billboard, displayed for one month, appears 75 times daily and reaches hundreds of individuals passing through the area each day, amplifying Zonta’s mission to raise awareness and inspire action.
As the 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-Based Violence begins, the Zonta Club of Quirino, Philippines, unveiled billboards across the province declaring, “Zonta Says No to Violence Against Women.”
Coordinated with Area 4, the unified billboard campaign highlights Zontians’ commitment to ending violence against women and girls, amplifying their advocacy across the region.
The club marks this day as a Day of Envisioning, inspiring a future free from gender-based violence.
On 7 November, students, families, school staff and Zonta members gathered at the Stirling Street Arts Centre for the annual presentation of the Respect Art Calendar awards. District 23, Area 3 Director Kimberley Robbins presented the awards, recognizing students whose artwork highlighted meaningful messages about respect.
For the past three years, the Zonta Club of Bunbury Inc, Australia, has invited schools in Bunbury and surrounding areas to participate, with 246 entries submitted from eight schools. Selected artwork was featured in the 2025 calendar, fostering conversations among students about what respect looks, sounds, and feels like.
The initiative aims to create “Respect Ambassadors,” equipping children with strategies to address disrespect and promoting a vision of a future free from domestic and family violence.
Feedback from schools highlighted the impact of the project, with winners celebrated at assemblies and the importance of respect emphasized. One school shared a post recognizing a student for artwork symbolizing cultural respect and thanked Zonta for its inclusivity in the All Abilities category.
This inspiring event reflects Zonta’s commitment to fostering respect and creating a safer, more equitable world for future generations.
Members of the Zonta Club of Hamilton I, Canada, and the McMaster Golden Z Club gathered at local business Sari Not Sari to engage the public in conversations about eliminating gender-based violence. The club set up an information table and visited nearby businesses in pairs, encouraging them to display posters as a pledge to support the cause.
The event sparked meaningful discussions about Zonta’s mission and ways to combat violence against women, receiving widespread community support. It was a successful and inspiring day of advocacy and awareness.
The Zonta Club of Hong Kong held a joint Installation Ceremony for six Z clubs at Good Hope School. Following the ceremony, over 145 attendees, including Zontians, teacher advisers and Z club members, participated in a powerful advocacy activity for the Zonta Says NO campaign. Together, they raised awareness by forming an “X” with black cards to symbolize “NO” and surrounding it with orange fans printed with the campaign logo.
On 24 November, the Zonta Club of Isabela, Philippines, launched its Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign a day ahead of the official 16 Days of Activism.
The campaign, ongoing since 2012, aims to raise awareness of women’s rights violations and unite Zonta clubs worldwide in advocating against gender-based violence and inequality. The launch highlighted the campaign’s significance and introduced upcoming projects and activities to engage the public.
Club leaders, including President Jennifer Loveria, Vice President Ramorelia Caranay, and Charter and Past President Precious Jao, spearheaded the event, emphasizing Zonta’s commitment to empowering women and girls.
On 25 November, the Zonta Club of Isabela and the Province of Isabela launched their Zonta Says NO campaign at the Capitol grounds in the City of Ilagan, marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
The Zonta Club of Leer-Ostfriesland, Germany, is spreading awareness with Matilda, Germany’s Orange Lady, as part of the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign.
Symbolizing the fight against gender-based violence, Matilda is traveling across the country to raise awareness and inspire action. With her bright orange presence, Matilda delivers a powerful message: NO to violence against women!
On 20 November, the University General Hospital for Active Treatment in Stara Zagora opened the country’s first Orange Room to support and counsel victims of violence. This safe space was created by the Zonta Club of Stara Zagora, Bulgaria, along with the Stara Zagora Z club. The club also had the support of the Public Donor Fund, donors and like-minded advocates.
The Orange Room offers a gentle environment where survivors can receive timely legal protection and psychological help. Named for the color of the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign and the UN’s Orange the World initiative, the room symbolizes warmth, safety and peace of mind.
The club hopes the Orange Room will inspire national and international initiatives, providing safe spaces for survivors to feel protected and empowered to make positive changes in their lives.
The Zonta Clubs of Kaohsiung Yu Hsiuan and Kaohsiung, Taiwan, part of District 31, hosted a ceremony donating ten electric motorcycles to the Kaohsiung City Government. The donation supports social workers in reaching remote areas quickly to assist victims of domestic violence, aligning with the Zonta Says No to Violence Against Women campaign.
President Sandy Hung of Kaohsiung Yu Hsiuan emphasized the club’s commitment to gender equality and ending violence, noting the donation coincided with the club’s 30th anniversary. The motorcycles, branded with the clubs’ logos, were made possible through months of planning and generous support from like-minded organizations.
The event also featured parent-child activities and a “Get to Know Zonta” Q&A program, offering prizes for correct answers about Zonta. Hundreds of attendees joined club members in calling for an end to violence against women.
The Zonta Club of Bendigo Inc, Australia, has launched its 16 Days of Activism campaign with the release of a video titled Respect Is, shared on the club’s newly created YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/bYhdPa00_H0.
As a member of the Greater Bendigo Against Family Violence (GBAFV) Committee, the club is sponsoring an evening with Australian tennis star Jelena Dokic. Dokic will share her experiences of overcoming war, bullying, and domestic violence at the hands of her father and tennis coach. The event, which quickly booked nearly 1,000 tickets, promises to be a compelling highlight of the campaign.
The GBAFV Committee has also organized a daily calendar of events throughout the 16 Days of Activism, with Zonta members actively participating in many activities. In preparation, club members have knitted and crocheted orange flowers, which will adorn the fence of the Bendigo Conservatory in the town center. The Conservatory itself will be illuminated in orange for the duration of the campaign, symbolizing support for the elimination of violence against women and girls.
Join us in saying NO 