Nasreen Khan, District Chair for Z and Youth Clubs in District 25, has produced a special video for the 16 Days of Activism. The clip features Z and Youth Club members from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal discussing cyberbullying and early child marriage.
The video is centered on the theme “Safe and Empowered: United Against Abuse,” highlighting the collective voice of young leaders who are calling for awareness, protection and meaningful action.
District 25 hopes that Zontians and supporters worldwide will watch, share and uplift the voices of these youth advocates. Leaders emphasized that hearing directly from young people is essential to shaping solutions that protect their rights and empower the next generation.
The Golden Z Club Marburg has donated €1,000 to a local association offering self-defense courses for women and girls, using proceeds from its ongoing feminist film matinee series.
Every four weeks, the club partners with a local cinema to host a Sunday matinee with a champagne reception, featuring films with feminist backgrounds.
On 6 November, Zontians from Latvia, Sweden (District 21) and Finland (District 20) united to protest Latvia’s proposed withdrawal from the Council of Europe’s Istanbul Convention, the landmark international treaty aimed at preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.
Urgent action was required after the Latvian Parliament voted to begin the process of withdrawal. Zonta District 21 Governor Margareta Munge immediately wrote to President Edgars Rinkēvičs, requesting him to reject the Parliament’s decision.
Civil society organizations across Latvia launched a coordinated advocacy campaign lasting several weeks. Actions included daily protests outside the Parliament building, widespread social media awareness, active participation in parliamentary committee debates and an online petition gathering public support. The protests culminated on 6 November in a mass demonstration in Riga, where more than 10,000 people gathered to oppose the withdrawal. Solidarity protests took place across Europe, with Zontians joining demonstrations in Stockholm and Helsinki.
These efforts contributed to a crucial development: President Rinkēvičs formally requested that the Parliament postpone its final vote until after the country’s 2026 election. This provides vital time to continue working to ensure Latvia remains committed to the international treaty protecting women and girls.
In recognition of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Zonta Club of Elizabethtown, USA, recently held it’s Seventh annual Domestic Violence Awareness Walk.
Club members and participants carried signs along Ring Road in front of Derm Specialist and Blue Oval businesses to draw attention to the issue. Signs were then posted along the road and will remain up until the end of October.
Kentucky has the second-highest ranking for domestic violence in the nation. There were 7,964 arrests in 2024.
In the last reporting period for fatalities, 2023, Kentucky had 26 deaths, and all were women. Nineteen of these were gun violence-related. SpringHaven Domestic Violence Program, serving the eight counties in the area, served 181 domestic violence victims in the shelter and 883 others.
Club President Linda Funk reported that in the five weeks prior to the walk, the local paper reported arrests for 12 domestic violence-related assaults, six strangulation charges, one EPO violation, a dating violence arrest, a rape, and a September article that referenced a June incident involving a father shooting a gun at the mother of his 6-year-old child during a visitation transfer.
The guest speaker for the walk, John Wright, director of public relations for the Hardin County Schools, said there are 14,600 students in the system, and the issue of children experiencing domestic violence is a concern.
Wright said there are 3,000-plus staff in HCS, and fortunately, a good portion of them are ladies, and if not, schools likely would not function as well.
In thanking Wright, Funk encouraged everyone to speak out against violence and especially asked that men speak up and be a voice against domestic violence.
Zonta’s Mission, both locally and internationally, is to advocate against gender-based violence. Zonta also advocates against child marriage, human trafficking, and addresses issues of fairness and equality for women and girls academically and in the workplace. Additionally, Zonta has an interest in promoting awareness of climate change and its impact on women.
For information about Zonta, go to Facebook or for meetings or membership inquiries, call or text Kelly Roark at 270-401-8141.
During the Zonta District 14 Conference in Aschaffenburg, 37 clubs and 3 Golden Z Clubs exchanged ideas and discussed gender equality, women’s rights, education, violence prevention and the effects of climate change, which women worldwide suffer from the most.
Late on Saturday afternoon, all participating Zontians and students drew attention to Zonta’s stand against violence against women with orange umbrellas at Aschaffenburg’s market square,
“Domestic and family violence isn’t inevitable,” says Zonta Noosa president Tracey Stubbs, ahead of a regional forum aimed at driving change.
The combined Zonta clubs of the Sunshine Coast will be hosting a domestic and family violence prevention forum at UniSC on Friday 8 November.
“Change starts locally, and every voice makes a difference,” Tracey said.
Join service providers, advocates, and people with lived experience of Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) for a powerful day of learning, sharing, and action.
Speakers include Jo Mason (Founder and CEO, Workhaven); Acting Magistrate Raelene Ellis; Snr Sergeant Jonathon McBride (Sunshine Coast DFV and Vulnerable Persons Unit); and representatives from Women’s Legal Service Queensland.
The forum will explore how communities of practice – collaborative networks that prioritise safety, inclusivity, and respect – can strengthen prevention, response, and recovery for those affected by DFV.
The event coincides with Zonta International’s anniversary, marking over a century of global work to improve women’s health, expand economic opportunities, and prevent gender-based violence.
The Zonta Club of Hualien, Taiwan, gathered with their families to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, blending festivity with purpose as they promoted Zonta International’s “Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women” campaign.
Before the celebration began, Club President Liping Peng encouraged members and guests to join the global effort to end gender-based violence. She emphasized that the club aims to integrate advocacy into its regular activities so that more people can understand Zonta’s mission and values. The goal of their efforts is for everyone to gain a deeper understanding of Zonta’s purpose. Through each initiative, the club hopes people will get to know more about Zonta.
To expand their reach, the club shared the event and campaign highlights on social media, using digital platforms to amplify the message and inspire others to take part in the movement.
On 19 September, representatives of the Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley, USA, participated in a local radio interview to raise awareness of domestic violence and promote the club’s upcoming event, “Unite Against Domestic Violence.”
The awareness event, scheduled for 3 October, will feature California State Assembly Member Pilar Schiavo, Santa Clarita Sheriff’s Station Captain Brandon Barclay and other community leaders committed to ending domestic violence.
On 20 September, Zonta members of all ages—from high school students to longtime advocates—gathered at Everett’s waterfront in a sea of orange to take part in the Zonta Says NO Orange Walk. The event, held during the District 8 “Women Soar” Conference, served as both a call to action and a demonstration of solidarity against gender-based violence.
Participants walked in bold orange shirts, scarves and signs, symbols of Zonta International’s global campaign to end violence against women and girls. The display of unity and determination reflected the organization’s century-long commitment to advancing gender equality through advocacy and service.
This is more than just a walk to the Zonta district—it’s a movement. The event underscores the energy and camaraderie shared throughout the day.
Organizers emphasized that the Orange Walk is only one step in an ongoing journey. Zonta clubs and members are encouraged to carry the momentum forward by supporting survivors, volunteering at shelters, challenging harmful attitudes and continuing to advocate for stronger protections worldwide.
The annual Orange Walk highlights Zonta’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goal No. 5: achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls. Through campaigns such as Zonta Says NO, members across the globe strive to build a safer, more equal future.
As the event concluded, participants linked arms along the Everett waterfront, symbolizing the shared vision that drives Zonta’s mission.
In support of Zonta says NO to violence against women, members of the Zonta Club of Hualien II and Taoyuan, Taiwan, joined together in Japan to turn commitment into action by climbing Mount Fuji. This meaningful climb was led by Hualien II Club President Daisy Chen and Taoyuan Vice President Juliana Huang, who inspired members to embody Zonta’s mission through courage and teamwork.
Facing steep slopes and high altitude, the Zonta members tested the limits of endurance and resilience, but with determination, they conquered the climb together. The experience reflected the Zonta Spirit, showing that only by standing together we create a world where women live free from violence and fear.
At the same time, this journey strengthened the sisterhood between the two clubs. It became a lasting memory and a powerful reminder of why the clubs walk this path together.
Join us in saying NO 