The Zonta clubs of Toowoomba Garden City Inc and Toowoomba Inc, Australia, partnered with a Zonta e-club, the Domestic Violence Action Centre (DVAC), Toowoomba Together Inc and Protea Place to stand together to eliminate violence against women and children. Dressed in orange and holding up banners, they lined the Victoria Street Bridge from 4 to 5:30 PM, the busiest time, to bring awareness to the issue.

With actions like this, the club wants their community to know that they will not tolerate any violence against women, and they need to call it out.

The Zonta Club of Redcliffe Inc, Australia, had a successful 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence by holding several actions such as:

• Holding an Orange Activism Breakfast with special guest speaker Simone O’Brien, a domestic violence survivor who now lectures Australia-wide and internationally. Ninety-five attendees participated.
• Turning Moreton Bay orange with lighted council buildings, parks and fountains
• Putting up three local Zonta library displays in Redcliffe, North Lakes and Deception Bay.
• Placing 16 Orange Ladies in local businesses around Redcliffe Peninsula.
• Hanging four Zonta Says NO banners on prominent sites on the Redcliffe Peninsula and surrounding areas.
• Displaying a banner and video made at Mango Hill Market Place.
• Having an interview on local radio 99.7 Bridge FM.
• Publishing articles in two local publications,  Redcliffe Magazine and Moreton Daily.
• Putting up two information tables with members present at local shopping centers.
• Participating in Brisbane City’s Zonta Says NO walk.
• Posting almost daily on Facebook with domestic and family violence awareness facts.
• Holding a Zonta flag and UN flag-raising ceremony with about 50 attendees at Redcliffe City Hub.

With all these events and others throughout the year, the club has become well-known throughout the region for their work and what they stand for. a

The Zonta Club of London, United Kingdom, partnered with charity Savera UK to march through Liverpool city center from Williamson Square to call for an end to honor-based abuse (HBA), harmful practices and all forms of gender-based abuse.

During the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the Zonta Club Burdekin Inc, Australia, engaged in several activities, such as:

• Placing a Zonta Says No Banner on St Francis’ Primary School fence.
• Displaying orange ladies in the Ayr Police Station, the Council Library, Dr Tata’s medical surgery in Home Hill and the Ayr Medical Centre.
• Having the water in the fountain in the center of Ayr turned orange.
• Having an article published in the local paper covering activities and goals during the 16 Days and communicating that family and domestic violence will not be tolerated in their community. The message was shared during Senior’s week at a Men’s Shed function.

On 29 November, the Zonta Club of Washington County Area, PA, USA, wore orange hats and went to a popular local restaurant. Sat in the middle of the building, other patrons spoke with members about the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign.

Pleased with the amazing conversations, the club brought needed attention to the issue to those in their county.

On 18 November 2023, the Zonta Club of Zonta Club Kitchener-Waterloo, Canada, participated in a fundraising event called Voices Empower: Walk to Break the Silence. This fundraising event was for the Women’s Crisis Services Waterloo Region (WCSWR). Zontians, who were unable to participate in the event, supported financially.

The club was the top group fundraiser.

The Zonta Club of Riga, Latvia, marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women with an installation “Where is she?”. It took place less than a week before a crucial parliamentary vote on ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention). Latvia signed the convention in 2016, but there had been strong opposition to its ratification. Meanwhile, since 2016, 133 women have been killed by their family members or intimate partners. 

The 133 pairs of orange shoes represented the women who had lost their lives while the politicians postponed ratification of the major convention against domestic violence. The symbolically abandoned shoes were displayed in the alley before the government building. The one-day installation aimed to draw attention to the shocking numbers of violence in Latvia and call for ratification of the Istanbul Convention. 

The event was organized in partnership with the NGO “Sievietei paveicās” (“Lucky her”) and received broad media coverage. It was broadcast on the main TV stations, national radio, major internet news portals, and social media. The good news is that less than a week after the event, the parliament finally ratified the Istanbul Convention. 

The Zonta Club of Seguin, USA, met at City Hall with city council members and the mayor of Seguin, wherein a proclamation was signed proclaiming 21 November 2023 as Zona Says NO to Violence Against Women Day. The day encourages all residents to prevent gender-based violence by educating the community on its harm, to advocate for survivors of gender-based violence and to act in service on their behalf.

It was further acknowledged that for over 100 years, Zonta International has contributed to help achieve a world free of violence against women and girls through service and advocacy, that such violence is a severe violation of human rights that not only negatively affects women it also affects their families, communities and countries around the world.