For the 16 Days of Activism, the Zonta Club Taranto, Italy, visited the local high schools to meet with young people to carry out violence-prevention activities. They received training from criminal lawyer Alessandra Tracuzzi, criminologist Antonella de Marco and psychologist Graziana Calò.
Zonta Area Director Evelyn Zappimbulso presented Zonta’s global work to the schools.
This story was translated into English with Google Translate.
As part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the Zonta Club I of Colombo, Sri Lanka, held its fitness fundraiser, “Walk for Dignity! End Period Poverty,” on 15 November. The event aimed to raise funds and awareness for menstrual health and hygiene while advancing the global call to end period poverty.
The walk supports the club’s partnership with the Selyn Foundation’s BleedGood program, which promotes menstrual health, sustainable practices and access to eco-friendly, reusable menstrual products for women and girls across Sri Lanka. Through the initiative, Zonta advocates for dignity, education and sustainable solutions that directly impact women’s health and environmental wellbeing.
According to the club, 40–60% of women and girls in Sri Lanka face period poverty, while households spend an estimated 3.5% of their income monthly on menstrual products. 60% of girls miss school during their periods, and approximately 963 million single-use products are discarded each year, underscoring the urgency for sustainable and accessible alternatives.
More than 95 participants, including women, men and supporters from corporate and media partners, joined the walk. Funds raised will support community workshops and the provision of reusable menstrual solutions to women and girls in need.
Learn more here.
The Zonta Club of Frankfort, USA, hosted the 10th annual Area 4 Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women Event and Walk on 15 November, bringing together Zonta members, youth clubs and community partners to launch the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
Held at the Skanta Theatre in the Frankfort Community Public Library, the event included members of the Lebanon and Indianapolis Zonta Clubs, Z Club members from Lebanon High School and future members of the upcoming Golden Z Club at Purdue University. Participants also included women from WeCare Recovery Home and local supporters.
Area 4 began hosting annual Zonta Says NO walks in 2015, when more than 100 participants gathered on Monument Circle in Indianapolis to raise awareness about domestic violence. That inaugural event became the catalyst for a decade of area-wide walks focused on advocacy, visibility and community action.
This year’s speakers included Jenny Gardner, Director of Operations at WeCare Recovery Home, who shared an overview of their work; Donnell Wright, a current WeCare resident who offered part of her personal story; and Frankfort Police Chief Scott Shoemaker, who presented local domestic violence statistics and delivered a proclamation from Mayor Judy Sheets recognizing Zonta’s 16 Days of Activism campaign.
The morning concluded with a screening of “Finding Nicole,” a film based on the true story of Nicole Beverly, a survivor of more than a decade of domestic abuse who now advocates for those affected by violence. Attendees then carried “Zonta Says NO” signs through downtown Frankfort and around the courthouse square, calling for an end to domestic violence and honoring the resilience of survivors.
Venango County Commissioners Chip Abramovic, Ken Bryan and Sam Breene signed a proclamation on 18 November, declaring 8 December 2025, as “Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women Day” in Venango County, PA, USA. The designation encourages all residents to prevent gender-based violence by educating the community on its harm, advocating for survivors of gender-based violence and acting in service on their behalf.
Zonta Club of Oil City–Franklin Club President Rebekah Deal and Vice President Bonnie Summers were present for the signing.
Many Midland storefronts display orange lady dolls as part of the Zonta Club of Midland’s campaign to end gender-based violence.
The orange dolls, named Julie, are to raise awareness for Zonta International’s service project, Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women.
The project was adopted from the United Nations 16 Days of Activism campaign to unite towards a common cause of ending gender-based violence.
One in three women will experience gender-based violence in her lifetime, and it is one of Zonta’s missions that no woman shall live in fear of violence. During the 16 Days of Activism, from Nov. 25 through Dec. 10, organizations and Zonta Clubs throughout the world raise awareness about this issue and challenge people to stand up and say NO to violence against women.
This year’s theme is “UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls.” The campaign aims to raise awareness about the escalating problem of digital violence, which includes online harassment, abuse, and exploitation. Orange is the color of the campaign, and the dolls represent the women in our community who have fallen victim to violence.
The orange dolls are named in honor of Julie, who was a 23-year-old female who was riding her bike to a friend’s house in Belgium when she was attacked. She attempted to fight off the attacker, but she was much smaller. He strangled her and threw her into the canal, where her body was found three days later. Her attacker was a serial rapist released on parole who slipped through the cracks of the justice system.
Julie’s family is prompting changes in Belgium’s judicial system in her memory, so this does not happen to other women. Julie’s aunt is a member of the Zonta Club of Midland and advocates for women to protect themselves and men to stand up and pledge to say no to violence against women.
Julie’s death is not in vain as her family and friends are continuing her legacy in advocating for ending gender-based violence. You can follow Julie’s story on Instagram @julie.vanespenslife.
You can help Zonta take a stand and say NO to violence against women by taking a selfie with the dolls, posting on Facebook your selfie and how you will stand up to violence against women, and tagging Zonta Club of Midland.
Zonta Club of Midland is a service organization working to advance the status of women and girls in Midland and is part of Zonta International, a leading global organization of individuals working together to build a better world for women and girls. Additional information can be found at ZontaClubOfMidland.org.
Read the full article here.
A special contest to honor the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is back. Zonta International’s Savona chapter has decided to organize the second edition of this very special initiative.
“Zonta says NO” is even more evocative this year thanks to the collaboration with AICC (Italian Association of Ceramic Cities) – an association that brings together municipalities with an established ceramic tradition recognized by the MISE (Ministry of Economic Development) and the Baia della ceramica (with the municipalities of Savona, Albissola Marina, Albisola Superiore and Celle Ligure), coordinated by Indaco grafica & eventi.
A contest will be organized with the merchants of the city of Torretta, involving many participants, to raise awareness of an important issue and liven up their shop windows. The contest will feature themed shop windows set up by participating businesses, displaying the “red ceramic shoes” part of a project launched in 2017 with the initiative’s partners (AICC and Baia della Ceramica).
From November 17th to 28th, it will be possible to admire many of the city’s shop windows set up on the themes that will be the subject of the contest. On the afternoon of November 28th (at 2:30 pm) in the Sala Rossa of the Municipality of Savona, photographs of the shop windows will be brought to life and, thanks to a selected jury, the three most evocative shop windows will be recognized.
All citizens are invited to visit the shop windows in the city and also to participate on November 28th for the closing of this event, which is certainly deeply felt by all the protagonists of this edition.
“This initiative aims to represent a very sensitive topic that, on this occasion, unites commerce, the art of ceramics, and the Zonta Club Savona in a large journey through themed installations to not forget… and reflect,” says Elisa Zanelli, president of the Savona chapter of Zonta International.
This story was translated into English using Google Translate.
Read the full article here.
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.
Click here to watch the video.
As part of its 16 Days of Activism initiatives, the Zonta Club of Toronto, Canada, hosted a virtual panel discussion on Nov. 12 examining the urgent issues of intimate partner violence (IPV), femicide and their growing impact on the shelter system.
Panelists included Marrisa Kokkoros of Aura Freedom International, Wendy De Souza of METRAC and Grace Kolawole of Street Haven Shelters. Each expert shared data, lived experiences and frontline insights, much of which served as a sobering reminder of the scale and severity of gender-based violence in Canada and around the world.
Access the video by using this link and passcode: p0f5?r6#
The Zonta Club of Tokyo II, Japan, held a Zonta Says NO table talk during its November regular meeting.
The Zonta Club of Bangkok IX, Thailand, together with the Golden Z Club Rajamangala University of Technology Phra Nakhon (RMUTP), will launch an event on 26 November which will feature learn-by-doing activities, an essay competition and a public relations parade aimed at raising awareness of violence against women and encouraging students to become advocates for change.
Throughout the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, all club members, its Z Club school partners and the Golden Z Club RMUTP will amplify the campaign both online and across school and university premises. Signboards, digital posts and student-led initiatives will reinforce the message that ending violence against women requires collective action and continuous advocacy.
Join us in saying NO 