Niagara Falls was illuminated in orange the evening of 24 November, ahead of Orange Day on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Zonta Club of Niagara Falls, Canada, along with the Zonta Clubs of St. Catharines, Fort Erie and Niagara Falls, New York, USA, participated in the Candlelight Falls Walk to mark the start of the 2015 Zonta Says NO to Violence against Women campaign and the 16 Days of Activism.

To kick off the 16 Days of Activism and Zonta Says NO to Violence against Women campaign, the Zonta Club of Singapore hosted an anti-bullying forum. The club’s members showed its support for ending violence against women by wearing orange.

The Zonta Club of Auckland, New Zealand, took to the streets for the Zonta Says NO to Violence against Women campaign. Members wore custom bright orange “Zonta Says NO” t-shirts and carried a banner in a march up Queen Street in Aotea Square Wednesday morning. Local men joined their cause by participating as advocates alongside club members.

As the first initiative for their Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign, the McMaster Golden Z Club, Ontario, Canada, held a women’s self-defense workshop. A martial artist with a black belt in Taekwondo taught students basic self-defense skills. Attendees were also asked to bring hygienic items, which will be donated to a women’s shelter.

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The Zonta Club of Bad Soden-Kronberg, Germany, has launched an online petition urging their country to ratify the Istanbul Convention in the 18th legislative period. The Istanbul Convention is a comprehensive legal framework working to prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence, opened for signature in 2011 and signed by 40 countries. See the petition online.

The Zonta Club of Mineral Wells, Texas, USA, offered a free self-defense class hosted by a black belt Karate instructor. The instructors led discussion about self-defense and had each participant practice the moves with a partner and/or with the instructors. About 25 people participated and benefited from the event. The club advertised the event on local marquees, Facebook and with flyers. It was also broadcasted daily at the local high school.

The president of the Zonta Club of Bendigo, Australia welcomed the crowd of around 800 to a White Ribbon Day community event and march. After hearing from guest speakers Luke Ablett, a former Australian rules footballer, and Assistant Commissioner Therese Walsh, the crowd, lead by the armed forces, marched around Bendigo.

Wyoming Governor Mead signs the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Proclamation November 23, 2015

The Zonta Club of Cheyenne, Wyoming, USA, along with their sponsored Triumph High School Z Club, recently planned a proclamation signing and Silent Witness Procession. The Proclamation for 16 days of Activism Against Gender Violence Proclamation was signed by the Wyoming State Governor Matt Mead as well as another by the Mayor of Cheyenne, which was presented by city councilperson.

The event also included a procession of Silent Witness Silhouettes through downtown Cheyenne, from the state capitol to the county library. Singer Ty Stockton sang a song he wrote about the domestic violence shooting of singer Robin Munis. In the procession, Zontian Debbie Richardson carried her daughter, Christine Town’s Silent Witness Silhouette; a friend carried Robin Munis’ Silhouette and a police officer, who was called to the scene of Robin Munis’ murder, carried a silhouette. A woman carried a handmade sign with her sister’s name and date of her death in the procession.

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At a  Zonta Says No to Violence against Women school assembly, boys and girls from four local schools witnessed a powerful presentation about domestic violence. After the assembly, put together by the MacKellar Girls Z Club, Australia, students joined together to form the word “NO.”

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The Zonta Club of Fort Collins, Colorado, USA, hosted a CAUGHT (Citizens Against the Unseen Grasps of Human Trafficking) community event on 14 November. In partnership with local organizations, the club put on a pancake breakfast. Part of the Zonta Says NO to Violence against Women campaign, the breakfast was followed by the viewing of a documentary titled “Tricked” and a panel of speakers who discussed the issue of human trafficking in the community. Click here to see more photos.