Members of the Zonta Club of Seguin, USA, gathered at the city council chambers with the Mayor of Seguin for a NO to Violence Against Women proclamation signing. The city’s water tower was illuminated in orange during the 16 Days of Activism to recognize that national and international Zonta clubs are uniting against gender-based violence.
The Zonta Club of Greater Dhaka, Bangladesh, hosted a Walkathon on 7 December at Ramna Park, marking a significant moment in the 16 Days of Activism campaign. Led by Club President Anhara Siddiky, the event united a diverse community to raise awareness and take action against gender-based violence.
A collaboration with the Bangladesh Girl Guides Association highlighted the critical role of youth in shaping a future free from violence. Their active participation and enthusiasm underscored a new generation’s commitment to advocacy and change.
Participants received T-shirts, mugs and towels featuring anti-violence messages, creating a powerful visual statement of solidarity. Media coverage amplified the event’s impact, with interviews from the club president and governor, bringing the message to households across Bangladesh and inspiring broader awareness.
A poignant moment came as pigeons were released, symbolizing peace, while balloons carrying anti-violence messages soared, representing collective hope for a world without fear. The event fostered conversations, strengthened community ties, and reinforced a shared commitment to ending violence against women.
The Walkathon was more than just a gathering—it was a movement for change, making meaningful strides toward a future where respect and equality prevail over violence and fear.
The Zonta e-Club Central and Southern Australia Inc, Australia, launched the 16 Days of Activism in Bass Coast with a community event aimed at raising awareness and taking action against family violence. The initiative brought together key stakeholders and community members to emphasize that family violence is never acceptable and to highlight the rising rates of violence in the region.
The event, which marked the start of 16 Days of Activism, was connected to Active Bystander training, an online forum with guest speakers, and a social media campaign. Key stakeholders supporting the initiative included the Bass Coast Shire Council, Corinella Community Centre, Victoria Police, Gippsland Women’s Health and Gippsland Centre Against Sexual Assault.
The event began with speeches from Sandra Burns and newly elected Bass Coast Mayor Rochelle Hallstead, setting the tone for a unified stand against family violence. The walk was led by the club president, alongside Sandra Burns, carrying the Zonta Says NO banner as a powerful statement of advocacy.
Local media, including The Sentinel, were informed of the initiative to amplify awareness and encourage community participation in the 16 Days of Activism campaign.
Though small in size, the Zonta Club of Albury-Wodonga Inc, Australia, made a significant impact during this year’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
The club launched its campaign with a yarn bombing initiative, covering a grove of 20 small trees in Wodonga and four large trees in Albury with knitted and crocheted orange squares. The project, supported by enthusiastic community groups, spread awareness of the campaign’s message in a highly visible way.
The first official day of the campaign included a radio interview explaining the significance of the orange-clad trees, while local newspaper coverage extended the reach of their advocacy.
On day two, club members attended a community vigil honoring the 87 victims of gender-based violence in Australia so far this year. Each name was read aloud, and members placed a native flower at the flagpole’s base, displaying a sign for women.
The club continued its advocacy throughout the campaign:
Despite its small size, the club made a big impact during the campaign, ensuring that the message of the 16 Days of Activism resonated throughout the community.
The Zonta Club of Rome I, Italy, organized a conference to address key aspects of Italian law aimed at combating gender violence. The event opened with a historical analysis of violence against women, followed by a detailed report on workplace abuses affecting women.
Held in an institutional conference room, the event brought together influential voices, including the President of the Commission for Equal Opportunities and other representatives of the municipality.
The Zonta Club of Fredericksburg, TX, USA, is committed to its mission of “Building a Better World for Women and Girls” by raising awareness about the alarming prevalence of labor trafficking, sex trafficking and sextortion in Texas. Partnering with organizations nationwide to combat these crimes, the club has taken proactive steps to address the issue locally.
The club produced and distributed posters and rack cards featuring local resources for victims. These materials include brief descriptions of services and QR codes for easy access, ensuring help is readily available to those in need. During the 16 Days of Activism, the club displayed a prominent “Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women” banner across Main Street to draw attention to the cause.
Club President Elizabeth “Liz” Wunderlich amplified the message by delivering live radio talks on the shocking statistics and Zonta’s ongoing efforts. Informational tables were set up at local businesses, including Schatze Haus, a thrift store associated with the Grace Center women’s shelter. The store decorated in orange, distributed rack cards, and offered popcorn, cookies and water to patrons.
To further engage the community, a large Zonta Says NO banner was displayed alongside hundreds of orange marker flags, symbolizing abuse victims. The display, illuminated with orange mini-lights, served as the backdrop for a group photo featuring Zonta Club members, Girl Scouts and representatives from the Fredericksburg Police Department and Gillespie County Sheriff’s Office to showcase community support.
The Zonta Club of Colombo II, Sri Lanka, recognizes that the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is a critical opportunity to raise awareness, advocate for change and support survivors. While empowering women and girls remains vital, this year’s campaign emphasized the importance of engaging men as allies in dismantling harmful societal norms and addressing gender-based violence.
The campaign highlighted how male silence can perpetuate harmful behaviors and encouraged men to speak out against sexism, misogyny and violence against women and girls. It invited men to stand in solidarity with women and endorse the Say NO to Violence movement, creating a united front for gender equality.
As part of the initiative, 13 influential Sri Lankan men and groups, alongside three women, participated by creating videos advocating for an end to gender-based violence. These videos featured prominent community leaders, athletes, professionals and artists, sharing diverse perspectives and experiences. The content was posted daily on social media throughout the campaign, using the hashtag #16DaysOfActivismAgainstGenderBasedViolence. Club members amplified the message by reposting on their personal accounts, expanding the campaign’s reach.
The campaign encouraged men and women to share pledges or stories of positive actions, creating a viral movement that inspired others to intervene and promote safer, more equitable communities. By fostering dialogue and shared responsibility, the initiative underscored that the fight against gender-based violence is not just a women’s issue but a collective effort to build a world free from fear and violence.
For the 16 Days of Activism, the Zonta Club of Bombay I, India, organized a poster competition on the theme “Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women” to raise visibility and awareness among the public. The competition was open to students in grades 7 and 8, with three schools participating: Lady Engineer High School, Vanita Vishram High School and BJPC Institution. Participants were asked to create posters on one of the following topics:
Each school’s art teachers selected their top 10 posters, which were submitted to the club. The winners of the competition were Arushi Singh of Lady Engineer High School, who won first place for her poster on “Eliminating Violence Against Women,” Heet Mayekar of BJPC Institution, who won second place for his poster on the same topic and Himanshu Chowdhry of Vanita Vishram High School, who won third place for his poster on “Education Equality.” Consolation prizes were awarded to Dhanvi Chauhan of Vanita Vishram High School and Anushka Kanojia of BJPC Institution, both for their posters on “Eliminating Violence Against Women.”
Vanita Vishram High School was awarded first place among the participating schools, followed by BJPC Institution in second place and Lady Engineer High School in third.
Winners will be honored at the Elphinstone Club in mid-February. Prizes include ₹500 for first place, ₹300 for second place, ₹200 for third place, and gift items for the consolation winners. The club office bearers and members visited the participating schools to announce the results and present plaques, recognizing the students’ creativity and efforts in promoting awareness through their artwork.
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette lit the LITE Egg orange in recognition of the 16 Days of Activism. The Light Immersive Technology Enterprise Center, a central landmark in Lafayette, USA, is visible to many traveling the nearby roadway. Members and guests were invited to take photos during the event.
The Zonta Club of Pforzheim, Germany, addressed the alarming rise in violence against women in Germany, including 155 femicides in 2023—a 16% increase from the previous year—through a poignant event as part of the ORNAMENTA (LUST) cultural program in the Northern Black Forest.
The event, held on 20 July, featured a collaborative performance designed by Pforzheim Dance Theater’s associate director, Mar Rodríguez Valverde, and dramaturge Anna Mohrdiek. The performance engaged 155 local women, symbolizing each femicide victim, who wore black and placed orange shoes on the ground in front of Pforzheim City Hall to honor the lives lost.
Actress Leonie Jacobs delivered a powerful monologue, condemning societal indifference to violence against women, while three dancers performed an excerpt from „MǍĀN“ by ShiYu Liu, symbolizing the journey from suffering to empowerment. Zonta member Sabine Voss concluded the event with a call to action against violence: “Stand up, listen, watch, help, prevent, raise awareness, educate—all together.”
The performance, accompanied by workshops and weeks of community engagement, deeply moved participants and spectators, leaving a lasting impact. The project received overwhelming positive feedback, with offers for future collaborations. Films, photos and further details are available from the club.
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