violence-against-women

Zonta Club Jönköping expands awareness across the city

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Last year for Zonta Says NO, the Zonta Club Jönköping, Sweden, made an orange chair, and this year, members created their own “Orange Lady,” crafted with materials donated by Optimera Värnamo, a local building supply company. The original orange chair is once again on display at Kulturhuset Spira, while one of the new Orange Lady installations has been placed in the storefront windows of Nordic Wellness along the city’s pedestrian street. Another is displayed inside the Nordic Wellness facility at Jönköping University. Nordic Wellness, a national gym chain, has partnered closely with the club to amplify the campaign.

A Zonta member who also works as an instructor at Nordic Wellness led three fully booked classes with “orange passes,” where participants could donate any amount via Swish to support the cause. The Orange Lady was prominently featured in the studio during these sessions. Nordic Wellness further supported the campaign by promoting Zonta’s message on its social media channels and preparing goodie bags for class participants. The club also visited the gym to speak about Zonta’s mission and raise awareness among members.

Landmarks in Jönköping, including the town hall, the County Administrative Board and the bridge at Spira have been illuminated in orange to mark the 16 Days of Activism and show the city’s collective stand against gender-based violence.

“Alla Pari” (On Equal Terms): United Against Gender Violence in the Workplace

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As part of the global Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign, Zonta Milano Sant’Ambrogio, Italy, welcomed representatives from the Milan Women Council and CAP Milano, the local water utility, for a meaningful review of the “Alla Pari” project. The session featured real experiences and examples from companies committed to preventing gender-based violence within the workplace.

The project is the result of a joint effort between the Milan Women Council (an umbrella group of 18 associations with multidisciplinary expertise in gender equality, including Zonta Milano Sant’Ambrogio), CAP Milano and its network of suppliers. Together, they work under a shared memorandum of understanding to foster a culture of respect, equality and prevention. Their commitment aims to fight all forms of discrimination and violence, with a special focus on violence against women, both at work and in society.

“Creating a respectful and equitable workplace is not a symbolic gesture, but a daily responsibility,” emphasized Elena Federici, moderator of the event and our club’s representative within the Milan Women Council. The event engaged participants both in person and online.

#OrangeTheWorld

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The dedication of the Zonta Club of Isabela, Philippines, to ending Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is not just heard—it is now lighting up the entire digital landscape! The club celebrated the powerful, unanimous action of every Zonta Club of Isabela member who is proudly demonstrating their unwavering commitment by adopting the official #OrangeTheWorld profile picture frame.

This collective movement transforms our individual Facebook profiles from simple personal spaces into united public declarations of zero tolerance for violence. It is a visible, unwavering assurance to every survivor, every family and every community member in Isabela that: Zonta Says NO is a powerful, active, and absolutely unified stance against abuse. The members are visibly standing in solidarity, turning their collective online presence orange as a symbol of optimism and a powerful reminder that help is available. The club is actively amplifying the message and accelerating our progress toward the crucial goal of eliminating violence against women and girls.

Zonta Club of Antipolo leads motorcade for the Zonta Says NO campaign

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On 25 November, the Zonta Club of Antipolo, Philippines, spearheaded a vibrant and heartfelt motorcade in support of the global Campaign to End Violence Against Women under the banner “Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women.” The event brought together women leaders, advocates and supporters from Zonta International District 17, Area 1, with each participating club represented by its president and officers.

The motorcade began at sunrise as Zontians gathered in Antipolo City, decorating their vehicles with orange balloons, banners and messages of empowerment. The convoy traveled through major routes, reaching business districts, communities and public spaces to amplify the call to end gender-based violence. Residents and passersby showed their support along the way, turning the city’s streets into a moving display of solidarity.

The presence of multiple clubs from Area 1 underscored the collective commitment of Zontians to protect women and girls, uphold human rights and strengthen awareness across cities and municipalities. This year’s participation was especially meaningful as club presidents marched—both symbolically and literally—side by side, demonstrating leadership grounded in compassion, courage and collaboration.

Before the motorcade set off, the Zonta Club of Antipolo emphasized the significance of the campaign through short program rites, highlighting Zonta International’s more than 100 years of advocacy. Speakers shared messages of hope, education and empowerment, stressing the essential role of community engagement in breaking the cycle of violence.

As the motorcade concluded, participants expressed gratitude for the opportunity to stand together for a cause that inspires collective action around the world. The event also strengthened bonds among Zonta clubs in Area 1 and reaffirmed their shared mission to build a safer and more equitable world where all women and girls can live free from violence.

Through this united effort, the Zonta Club of Antipolo contributes to the global movement—showing that even a single day of action can fuel long-lasting change. Together, Zontians declare: “No to Violence Against Women. Yes to equality, empowerment and hope.”

Zonta e-Club of Latvia launches “Words. Awareness. Action.” awareness campaign

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The Zonta e-Club of Latvia has joined the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence with a powerful awareness initiative centered on respect, equality and collective action. The club launched its campaign, “Words. Awareness. Action.” under the motto “Respect in words. Equality in action.” with a video message from members underscoring that violence against women is never a private issue, but one that harms families, communities and society as a whole.

The campaign stresses that respect is the foundation of equality—and that equality is essential to creating a world free from violence. Throughout the 16 days, each member will contribute a short video addressing themes such as courage, compassion, justice, responsibility and hope.

By elevating diverse voices and emphasizing shared responsibility, the club aims to raise awareness, inspire action and help build a society where every woman and girl can live in safety and dignity.

The initiative concludes with a clear call to action: “Together, let’s build a society without violence!”

The campaign video is available at: https://youtu.be/0YANknpuhDQ

Zonta Club of Johnson County amplifies Zonta’s mission

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The Zonta Club of Johnson County, USA, is partnering with the Cleburne, Texas Chamber of Commerce for its annual Hulen Park Whistle Stop celebration, an event featuring lighted trees and holiday festivities. The chamber program runs from 24 November to 31 December and coincides with the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.

For the second year, the club is collaborating with other local nonprofits to sponsor a Christmas tree decorating contest. Each organization decorates a tree under the Children’s Pavilion and displays a sign with a QR code directing visitors to information about the nonprofit’s mission, volunteer needs and programs. The Zonta Club manages the voting platform and presents the winning organization with a traveling trophy.

The Zonta Club features a prominent tree decorated in orange with Zonta symbols, and the tree skirt is created using advocacy posters and talking points from the Zonta International campaign. The club’s primary service partner, the Johnson County Family Crisis Center, also has a featured tree in the display.

Inspiring Women: Supporting talents against gender-based violence

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The Zonta Club Parma, Italy, met with Engineer Alessia Ferrari, an engineering professor at the University of Parma specializing in environmental sustainability research. She presented the problems of water and hydrogeological risks, the studies she is conducting and the related potential environmental solutions that benefit the community.

The event was sponsored by the Municipality of Parma and attended by Councilor Daria Jacopozzi. Annamaria Ferrari, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Gazzetta di Parma, moderated the discussion.

At the close of the program, the Zonta Club Parma club president presented Ferrari with the club’s “Inspiring Woman Award,” recognizing her as a positive role model and a young talent who has achieved excellence in the scientific field.

The club reaffirmed its dedication to advancing women’s full and equal participation in the economy, research and environmental decision-making at both national and local levels. Zontians emphasized the importance of strengthening the role of women and girls as agents of change for climate resilience.

Imagining a world without violence

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Under the leadership of Zonta Advocacy Chair Kelly Callaghan, the Zonta Club of Caloundra City Inc, Australia, held an art competition for Sunshine Coast secondary students, inviting them to submit two-dimensional artworks on the theme “Imagining a world without violence.” Zonta member Leonie Shirley served as the judge for the entries.

Zonta members were inspired by the level of insight, thoughtfulness and maturity the students demonstrated in both the artwork and the conversations that were held.

The club also thanked the Caloundra Arts Centre, which contributed displays of items to be donated to DV Connect, and the Caloundra Regional Gallery, which sponsored one of the competition prizes.

Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women — Talk by Dr. Vivek Venkatesh

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On 4 November, the Zonta Club of New Territories, Hong Kong, gathered for an inspiring evening with Dr. Vivek Venkatesh, Dean of the Faculty of Education at McGill University and UNESCO Co-Chair in the Prevention of Radicalisation and Violent Extremism. His powerful talk on “Social Pedagogy for Resilient, Inclusive Schools: Arts-Based Strategies to Counter Polarization” set the stage for the club’s Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign.

Dr. Vivek, an international scholar and educator renowned for his work in fostering inclusive communities through arts, dialogue and research, shared thought-provoking insights on how empathy and creativity can transform hate into hope. The club was honored to have VIP guests join, showing strong solidarity and support for women’s empowerment and leadership. With 44 passionate participants and Golden Z members adding energy and inspiration, the evening became a celebration of strength, unity and compassion.

Domestic and Family Violence Forum – Let’s Talk About Now

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The Zonta Clubs of Blackall Range Inc, Caloundra City Inc, Maroochy Inc and Noosa Inc, Australia, joined together to plan and host an awareness event at the University of the Sunshine Coast. More than 60 attendees heard from speakers with lived experience as well as presenters from police and legal backgrounds. Held as a precursor to the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the event highlighted the strong advocacy and service role played by Zonta clubs across the region.

Participants shared positive feedback about the program, noting the honesty and clarity offered by the legal speakers and the value of hearing directly from someone with lived experience. Comments included:
“I found the legal speakers incredibly honest and liked their views very much — told it how it is.”
“Great mixture, good to see a lived experience.”
“Thank you for organising and providing the opportunity to converse, network and pull focus to a very important focus area for many sectors.”

Given the strong interest and engagement, the clubs announced plans to repeat the event with a new theme in 2026.