On 7 December, the Zonta Club of Lome joined with the Zonta Club of Lome Millenium, Togo, to say no to violence against women and girls at the College St Pierre et Paul  in Aneho, a small town located 48 kilometers southeast of the capital city Lome.

Six days before the event, the clubs hung a Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women banner at the school entrance. Students also received orange “STOP violence against women” t-shirts during the event.

Well-known guest speakers, including a gynecologist, psychologist and legal expert, informed the students of their rights and asked them to voice any different kinds of violence (e.g. sexual or physical violence, early pregnancy, genital mutilation) and the consequences on their health, such as obstetric fistula.

Students and teachers alike were receptive and asked relevant questions. After three hours of debate, they were motivated to help eliminate violence in their community.

The event was covered by national media on television and in local papers.

The Zonta Club of Hamburg-Orchard Park, New York, participated in the Hamburg Holiday Parade on 26 November to raise awareness of the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign. Wearing their orange t-shirts, members carried both their club banner and the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women banner.

The FIR (Italian Rugby Federation)  presented Zonta Club in Italy for advocacy activities during the 16 Days of Activism as part of the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign.

The award was presented on 26 November in Padova, before the international match of Italy vs. Tonga. There were about 30,000 spectators in the crowd, and another 50,000 viewed the event on television. A large banner that said, “NO TO VIOLENCE AGAISNT WOMEN” was on display at the match.

The FIR presented the Zonta clubs a symbolic but significant gift of the ball from the 2015 Italy vs. New Zealand match, with signatures of the Italian and Tonga champions.

The award recognizes the advocacy work the Italian Zonta clubs have participated in to fight all forms of violence against women, as well as their work in building a culture of respect of human rights.

The Zonta Club of Jamestown, North Dakota, USA, partnered with nursing students from the University of Jamestown for a powerful display during the 16 Days of Activism.

The display included posters of photos of students, wearing masks for anonymity, who were holding whiteboards upon which they had written comments they have heard about sexual assault. The posters were in a local mall alongside a pull-up banner with statistics about sexual assault and information about Zonta International and its projects. There were also handouts with statistics about sexual assaults in the local area as well as the state of North Dakota.

Zonta members changed out the posters each day of the 16 Days of Activism, giving them the opportunity to talk to people about the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign.

On 25 November, members of the Zonta Club of Pampanga in the Philippines trooped to the Salakot Arch in Clarkfield, Pampanga, armed with nothing but vigor in promoting a community free of violence against women (VAW).

The iconic Salakot Arch, a symbol of Fil-Am friendship, was adorned with orange cloth. While chanting “VAW free Philippines starts with me,” Zontians and other attendees witnessed the arch turn orange as it was lit with orange lights. The lighting was immediately followed by a magnificent fireworks display.

The “Orange Your Icon (OYI)” advocacy initiative is an activity spearheaded by the Philippine Commission on Women and the Department of Tourism, which seeks to raise awareness in ending VAW “through decorating or embellishing famous and prominent tourism sites or attractions in the country with something that is colored orange.”

Club President Karen Anne Guevarra gave a brief lecture on Republic Act 9262, otherwise known as the Anti Violence Against Women and Children Act. She also gave an overview of the other laws protecting women such as the Anti-Rape, Anti-human trafficking, and anti-sexual harassment laws.

She stressed that eradicating violence against women is not solely women’s task but acknowledges that men in society equally plays a crucial role. As she put it, “Do not teach girls how to dress. Teach boys how to see.”

The club also placed signs on the fence around the Salakot Arch that say, “Violence-free community starts with me.” The signs remained throughout the 16 Days of Activism until 10 December.

Zonta clubs in Italy participated in the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign by organizing an “action of silence” at a rugby games.

At rugby games, a period of silence was observed to remind people of the need to combat gender-based violence. The Italian Area 3 of District 28 took part in this action, along with the Italian Area 3 of District 30.

The clubs received an award in recognition of the campaign. The event was reported across several media outlets, including on television.

The Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley, in partnership with the Domestic Violence Center of Santa Clarita, the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station and the City of Santa Clarita, participated in the 2016 Zonta Says NO to Violence campaign.

The Red Dress campaign is a visually impactful and moving campaign aimed toward bringing awareness to the violent acts and the victims who have lost their lives in our community because of them.

The Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign displayed seven red dresses around Santa Clarita, California, USA, to symbolize seven women who have lost their lives to domestic violence in our community.

All the dresses were displayed outside, vulnerable to wind and weather. Those elements animate the dresses, representing the life that is missing. The color of the dresses is meant to symbolize love and spilled blood, an inescapable reminder of the intimacy of domestic abuse. The dresses were on display throughout the city from Saturday, November 26, to Sunday, December 11.

Residents could see these dresses at several locations throughout the city, including City Hall, Santa Clarita Valley Court House, Santa Clarita Valley Station, Valencia Library, Old Town Newhall Farmers Market at the Old Town Newhall Library parking lot, Veterans Historical Plaza, College of the Canyons, along Main Street and at selected local schools and churches.

These bright red symbols are reminders of the reality of domestic violence. During the first half of 2015, an unprecedented 11 homicides were committed in Santa Clarita, six in relation to domestic violence. Educational information was distributed at every location where the dresses were displayed.

In 2016 there were no deaths related to domestic violence, but one dress was added for a 19-year old who was in the Santa Clarita Domestic Violence Shelter. When she left the shelter, she returned to her danger zone and her abuser tracked her down and killed her.

This was the second year the Zonta Club of Santa Clarita has presented the Red Dress Campaign at many locations around the city. The club received coverage at a City Council meeting, local television coverage, local press coverage in addition to the radio station.

The  Zonta Club of Mangawhai, New Zealand, has been holding knitting bees weekly over the last few months in preparation for their “knit-bomb” of a large prominent oak tree located in the center of Mangawhai Village.

On the evening of 25 November, the start of the 16 Days of Activism, members braved the rain and gathered to wrap, stitch, climb, stretch and decorate the tree to the delight and curiosity of local residents. The tree remained wrapped for the 16 days of activism and was featured in the local newspaper.

The following morning, the club hosted an advocacy stall at the village market. Along with their orange dolls, members distributed orange ribbons and Zonta Says No to Violence Against Women bookmarks with all proceeds earmarked for Women’s Refuge.

To continue the 16 Days of Activism, the club’s orange dolls provided static displays in the local library, museum, chemist and op shop, and they posted Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women messages with appropriate statistics on Facebook.

Reaction at the local market on Saturday morning was overwhelmingly positive and members manned an advocacy stall displaying the club’s orange dolls, offering information and support to anyone in the community. The club is delighted with the visibility and impact of their initiative, and the support from their local community.

The Zonta Club Kathmandu, Nepal, organized a series of programs to reach out to the community with information about violence against women. To raise awareness about the issue, the club distributed a badge on 18 November in the presence of elected member at CEDAW and Strategic Director of Saathi Bandana Rana, Miss Nepal 2016 Asmi Shrestha, Chari Maya Tamang and assistant dean and Faculty of law of Tribhuvan University and member of Supreme Court Bar Association Sashi Adhikari. The badges were worn by supporters, including men and women of all ages to show solidarity during the 16 Days of Activism.

Supporters from various organizations wore the badge to show their solidarity to the cause. The organizations ranged from banks, corporate houses, clinics, beauty clinics to other non-government organizations.

On 5 December the club, along with UN Women and National Information Commission, a government body, launched the English booklet “Information Related to Women’s Entitlements” as part of the 16 Days of Activism. The club supported the printing of the English version realizing the significance of it reaching out to a wider network.

From 25 November through 10 December, the Zonta Club Kathmandu has been posting relevant details on the Right to Information based on the booklet.