The Zonta Club of Punta del Este-Maldonado, Uruguay, continued its Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign with the initiative “Real men only raise their voices to defend women.”

This year, with the support of park rangers and staff from the Native Flora and Fauna Breeding Station of Sugar Loaf Hill, the club expanded its advocacy to include the Zonta Says NOW campaign, raising awareness about violence against women while educating the community on environmental protection and the impacts of climate change.

On 25 November, the Zonta Club of Alytus, Lithuania, partnered with the Alytus Soroptimist Club to host a public awareness campaign in Town Hall Square, highlighting violence against women.

The square was decorated with orange balloons and a striking black box bearing the message, “You see this balloon, see violence against women.“ The event featured participation from Jurgita Šukevičienė, Member of the Lithuanian Parliament, and District 13 Governor Rūta Jasionienė, who supported the call to action, “You can’t hide violence—speak up.”

The campaign emphasized the importance of recognizing and addressing violence against women in the community.

On 25 November, the Zonta Club of Amherst Area, Canada, held a flag-raising ceremony at the Town of Amherst in support of the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign. Despite rainy weather, the event featured a proclamation by Mayor Robert Small and remarks by club president Lisa Emery.

The ceremony was attended by local councillors, members of the public and candidates for the Nova Scotia Legislative Assembly. Lisa Emery emphasized the need for local and national policies to address violence and called on the community to support refugees fleeing conflict.

“We must ensure they do not face violence again—verbal, written, or physical,” Emery said, urging attendees to report aggression to protect families and foster safety within the community.

The event served as a platform to raise awareness about Zonta’s mission and advocacy efforts in a rural area where outreach relies heavily on social media.

Members of the Zonta Club of Hamilton I, Canada, and the McMaster Golden Z Club gathered at local business Sari Not Sari to engage the public in conversations about eliminating gender-based violence. The club set up an information table and visited nearby businesses in pairs, encouraging them to display posters as a pledge to support the cause.

The event sparked meaningful discussions about Zonta’s mission and ways to combat violence against women, receiving widespread community support. It was a successful and inspiring day of advocacy and awareness.

The Zonta Club of Hong Kong held a joint Installation Ceremony for six Z clubs at Good Hope School. Following the ceremony, over 145 attendees, including Zontians, teacher advisers and Z club members, participated in a powerful advocacy activity for the Zonta Says NO campaign. Together, they raised awareness by forming an “X” with black cards to symbolize “NO” and surrounding it with orange fans printed with the campaign logo.

The Zonta Club of Leer-Ostfriesland, Germany, is spreading awareness with Matilda, Germany’s Orange Lady, as part of the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign.

Symbolizing the fight against gender-based violence, Matilda is traveling across the country to raise awareness and inspire action. With her bright orange presence, Matilda delivers a powerful message: NO to violence against women!