violence-against-women

Zonta Club of Pforzheim highlights violence against women with powerful performance

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The Zonta Club of Pforzheim, Germany, addressed the alarming rise in violence against women in Germany, including 155 femicides in 2023—a 16% increase from the previous year—through a poignant event as part of the ORNAMENTA (LUST) cultural program in the Northern Black Forest.

The event, held on 20 July, featured a collaborative performance designed by Pforzheim Dance Theater’s associate director, Mar Rodríguez Valverde, and dramaturge Anna Mohrdiek. The performance engaged 155 local women, symbolizing each femicide victim, who wore black and placed orange shoes on the ground in front of Pforzheim City Hall to honor the lives lost.

Actress Leonie Jacobs delivered a powerful monologue, condemning societal indifference to violence against women, while three dancers performed an excerpt from „MǍĀN“ by ShiYu Liu, symbolizing the journey from suffering to empowerment. Zonta member Sabine Voss concluded the event with a call to action against violence: “Stand up, listen, watch, help, prevent, raise awareness, educate—all together.”

The performance, accompanied by workshops and weeks of community engagement, deeply moved participants and spectators, leaving a lasting impact. The project received overwhelming positive feedback, with offers for future collaborations. Films, photos and further details are available from the club.

Zonta District 27 Area 5 unite for Zonta Says NO

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Zonta District 27 Area 5 club recently coordinated two impactful initiatives that highlighted their commitment to community engagement and advocacy.

First, members distributed Zonta Says NO flyers, created by Area 5, and distributed to clubs across the region. Each club took responsibility for dispersing the flyers locally, placing them in pharmacies, doctors’ and dentists’ offices, bakeries, beauty shops, libraries and other public institutions. Some clubs also distributed flyers in markets, train stations and other high-traffic locations, ensuring widespread reach.

Additionally, the area organized a collaborative bread bag promotion, marking the first time all 12 clubs in Area 5 participated in a single initiative. The clubs collectively ordered and distributed an impressive 123,000 bread bags among various bakeries and supermarkets in the region. The campaign was met with great success, showcasing the power of unified efforts to amplify Zonta’s message.

*This story was translated into English by Google Translate.

Zonta Club of Chelsea and North Shore deliver gift bags to women in new homes

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As part of its commitment to the 16 Days of Activism, the Zonta Club of Chelsea and North Shore, USA, completed its annual club initiative to support women in need. This year’s project focused on delivering gift bags of toiletries to women transitioning into permanent housing through Bay Cove Human Services in Chelsea.

The gift bags were packaged using Zonta Says NO tote bags provided by Zonta International. Each bag was thoughtfully filled with 27 essential toiletry items, ensuring recipients were supported as they began their new chapter.

The project culminated in the delivery of the bags to Orchid House, a permanent housing facility operated by Bay Cove Human Services.

The club takes pride in its unwavering commitment to improving the lives of women and advancing Zonta International’s mission. The club remains dedicated to making the world a better and safer place for women through meaningful projects.

Zonta Club of Châtillon-sur-Seine et Région says NO to violence against women

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On 22 November, the Zonta Club of Châtillon-sur-Seine et Région, France, adorned key landmarks in the town orange. A banner and orange fabric were also wrapped around the central fountain, and Zonta signs were placed at the city’s entrances. The statues in the garden of the tourist office and the Marianne statue in the Mayor’s office were both fitted with orange scarves. One of the city gates was also illuminated in orange, while a visual message was displayed prominently on the town’s light panel throughout the campaign.

These actions were carried out in the presence of the Mayor of Châtillon, several personalities and club members, creating a strong community statement.

This initiative aims to raise awareness about gender-based violence, encouraging people to recognize the issue, learn about the progress being made, and feel empowered to speak out.

*This story was translated into English by Google Translate.

Orange the city and distribution of bread bags

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The Zonta Club of Lunéville, France, joined the global fight against gender-based violence with impactful initiatives during the 16 Days of Activism.

Key landmarks in Lunéville, including the town hall and castle, were illuminated in orange while the town hall in nearby Baccarat also glowed orange to raise awareness for the campaign.

In addition to these visual displays, the club distributed 60,000 bread bags which included a violence meter, a tool to measure violence in relationships, in around 50 bakeries across the Lunéville region.

*This story was translated into English by Google Translate.

The women who fought against power

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The author Luciano Salsi, held a presentation of his latest book to the Zonta Club of Bologna Due Torri, Italy. This new release is a contemporary work that draws inspiration from the classical world to address pressing issues of our time. These include the struggle between law and justice, the clash between individual rights and the reason of state and the conflict between the male and female soul. The presentation was organized in collaboration with the Army Club of Bologna.

Fundraising event and charity efforts

During the 16 Days of Activism, the club carried out numerous initiatives, including a charity fishing evening held at the prestigious Palazzo Grassi in Via Marsala 2, in the heart of Bologna. The event aimed to raise funds for women in difficulty, with prizes donated by sponsors such as CERVE, Edizioni Paoline and Salotto delle Muse. Additionally, the club presented a video they had created, featuring photos and concrete data for 2024, focusing on the critical issue of violence against women.

The evening concluded with a moving concert by lyric soprano Federica Venturi, accompanied on piano by Maestro Don Stefano Greco. The performance featured arias that tell the stories of women victims of violence:

  • “In questa reggia,” from the opera Turandot by Giacomo Puccini
  • “Voi lo sai, o mamma,” from the opera Cavalleria Rusticana by Pietro Mascagni
  • “Senza Mamma,” from the opera Suor Angelica by Giacomo Puccini

The event’s theme, “Because it’s time for the music to change,” echoed Zonta’s commitment to saying NO to violence against women. The atmosphere was filled with emotion and energy, reinforcing the belief that collective action is vital to building a better world for women and girls.

Zonta Club of Nueva Vizcaya honors women victim of abuse and violence

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In a heartfelt commemoration, the Zonta Club of Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines, together with the Z Club of Saint Louis School, Now Forming Z Club of Solano High School and members of the OFW organization of Solano, gathered to honor the lives of women who have tragically lost their lives due to violence and abuse.

This poignant event was held where members of the community came together to remember those who suffered at the hands of violence and to renew their commitment to creating a safer environment for women and girls.

The event to honor the memory of the victims began with a solemn moment of silence, allowing attendees to reflect on the loss of lives caused by violence. Candles symbolizing hope and resilience were lit, also as an expression of solidarity with the survivors of violence.

The blessing of the gravestone was officiated by Fr. Roy D. Quiambao.

The club remains committed to continuing its advocacy for women’s rights by creating programs that raise awareness about violence against women. It is hoped that this annual memorial service will serve as a catalyst for change within the community.

Zonta Fun Bike

The Zonta Club of Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines, organized a Zonta Fun Bike event that began at Heroes Park and traversed the rural barangays of San Luis, Lactawan, Mapaina, Uddiawan, Bangaan, Wacal, and Quezon. Participants wore T-shirts emblazoned with the message “I SUPPORT THE ZONTA CLUB OF NUEVA VIZCAYA: STOP VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN.”

Atty. Jerome Marcos and Barangay Captain Melchor Marzo served as lead guides for the event, accompanied by groups including baysol, kapedal, bagabag mountain bikers, padyak tulak mountain bikers, rotary club of vizcaya, villaverde mountain bikers, bambang mountain bikers, t6t and other individual bikers.

The Fun Bike event aimed to raise awareness within the community, especially among residents in the rural areas of Solano, about the importance of stopping violence against women.

Throughout the journey, the song “Sandigan ng mga Kababaihan” played, celebrating and honoring women while emphasizing their strength, resilience and invaluable contributions to society.

Zonta District 26 holds orange campaign

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District 26 embraced the Zonta Says NO campaign as a unified advocacy initiative across all its clubs. As part of this effort, members decorated trees with orange ribbons and placed posters at their bases to promote the mission to end violence against women and girls. These visual displays aimed to raise awareness and call for action on this critical issue.

Golden Z club members also actively participated in the campaign, collaborating with host clubs to amplify their advocacy efforts. In addition, some clubs have created “Orange Ladies” figures to symbolize their cause, while others have illuminated local landmarks, such as television towers, in orange to further draw attention to the initiative.

District 26 is striving for a greater impact by combining club-specific activities with coordinated district-wide efforts, showcasing a collective commitment to eradicating violence against women and girls.

District 32 says NO to violence against women

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On 30 November, Zonta District 32 carried out the Zonta Says NO campaign in cities across South Korea, including Seoul, Daegu, Busan, Daejeon and Yeosu. Approximately 140 Zonta members participated, holding pickets against illegal filming, dating violence, workplace sexual harassment, sexual violence and domestic violence.

The members also distributed leaflets to encourage citizens to help create a safe, violence-free society for women. A photo zone was set up to engage the public and raise awareness.

District 32 Governor Hyo-Sook La stated, “It is important to actively participate in support activities against all forms of violence against women,” and emphasized, “Gender equality must be maintained for a sustainable society.”

Walk for solidarity to stop violence

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The Zonta Club of Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines, in collaboration with the Z Club of Saint Louis College and soon-to-be members of the Now Forming Z Club of Solano High School, organized the “Walk for Solidarity to Stop Violence” in the Poblacion of Solano.

The event served as a powerful demonstration to raise awareness about violence against women, aiming to inspire communities to take actionable steps toward a future free from violence, discrimination and abuse. By engaging local participants, the walk sent a strong message to the community about the urgent need to address and prevent gender-based violence.