The Zonta Club of Greater Queens, USA, celebrated the holiday season and welcomed the new year, proclaiming NO to violence against women and bringing more members into their Zonta community.
The Zonta Club of Fort Collins, USA, hosted the training program ‘In Her Shoes’ at the local Chamber of Commerce for the 16 Days of Activism. Club members invited community members, county commissioners, city council, the mayor and nonprofit leaders whose work serves various populations in Northern Colorado, and are in a position to make a difference in the domestic violence issue in the city.
According to Fort Collins police data from 2024, 33% of all calls were related to domestic violence, reflecting the global reality that one in three women and one in five men experience domestic violence. The In Her Shoes program provided participants with an experiential learning opportunity by placing them in the role of a survivor navigating complex and often urgent safety decisions.
Working in small groups, participants followed assigned characters through a series of stations, making choices that led to different outcomes. The program concluded with group discussions where participants shared reflections and emotional responses to their experiences. Two rounds of the exercise were offered, allowing deeper engagement and discussion during the second session.
The training also served as an opportunity to introduce participants to Zonta International’s advocacy work, including the Zonta Says NO campaign, while fostering dialogue around local challenges, solutions and the importance of accessible resources for survivors. A networking session at the close of the event helped build connections among attendees committed to addressing domestic violence.
The Zonta Club of Fort Collins is now discussing offering this training a few times per year with the intention that the more we can teach the more aligned our community will be to end domestic violence. Learn more about the In Her Shoes initiative here.
The Zonta Club of Rome I, Italy, together with the Zonta e-club Roma Parioli hosted a conference to raise awareness about one of the most hidden and underreported forms of gender-based violence: abuse against women with disabilities.
Speakers emphasized that violence against women with disabilities is often harder to recognize, report and prosecute. Survivors may face barriers to communication, lack of accessibility or disbelief when they share their experiences, making them particularly vulnerable and isolated.
The event featured a powerful discussion led by Valeria Alpi, author of “La voce a te dovuta,” which documents testimonies of abuse shared directly by women with disabilities, and Simona Lancioni, a journalist long committed to amplifying disability rights and visibility. Their insights helped bring lived experiences to the forefront and challenged harmful stereotypes that contribute to silence and impunity.
On 25 November 2025, the Zonta Club of Amherst Area, Canada, led a community-wide advocacy effort as the Town of Amherst officially proclaimed Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women Day, marked by a flag-raising ceremony.
The event was part of the global Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women and UNiTE campaigns and focused on raising awareness of violence against women and girls, including both offline and online forms of abuse. In advance of the day, the club implemented a strategic communications campaign, issuing press releases to local and regional media outlets and extending invitations to elected officials and community partners. Coverage included publication in local and regional newspapers and a radio interview with club president Lisa Emery.
Mayor Robert Small, town councillors, representatives from Lilac Place for Women, Anchor Youth Space, the Amherst Police Department and Zontians gathered at the community flagpoles for the ceremony. Mayor Small read the official proclamation declaring 25 November 2025 as Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women Day, followed by remarks from Emery, who reinforced the campaign’s call for awareness, prevention and collective responsibility. The Zonta International flag was then raised, and orange Zonta Says NO ribbons were distributed to attendees.
Following the event, the Town of Amherst shared the proclamation, photos and a summary of the ceremony through its website and social media channels. The Zonta Club of Amherst Area also sent formal correspondence to the federal Minister of Women and Gender Equality and the Premier of Nova Scotia—copied to local Members of Parliament and the Legislative Assembly—urging strengthened legislative and policy responses to digital violence against women and girls.
Throughout the 16 Days of Activism, the club amplified advocacy messages through daily social media posts supporting Zonta Says NO and the UNiTE 2025 campaign. Community partners expressed appreciation for the club’s outreach and emphasized the importance of coordinated action rather than working in isolation.
The campaign holds particular urgency in Nova Scotia, where domestic violence was declared a provincial epidemic in September 2024. Since 2019, demand for women’s shelter services has increased by 182%, with approximately 4,800 women and children accessing support last year. The province also reports one of Canada’s highest rates of youth cyber violence, while the Amherst area lies along a known human trafficking corridor, underscoring the need for sustained, visible and informed advocacy.
The Zonta Club of Kasthamandap, Nepal, joined hands with the community through meaningful action with mikha.nepal.
Club members organized a paper envelope–making workshop with differently-abled participants, creating an environment that encouraged creativity, skill-building and empowerment. Every envelope was a reminder that every woman deserves to have an equal opportunity.
Walk for Dignity! Ending Period Poverty!
On 15 November, the Zonta Club I of Colombo, Sri Lanka, held a fitness fundraiser, “Walk for Dignity! End Period Poverty,” to raise awareness and funds for menstrual health and hygiene. The walk supported the BleedGood program of the Selyn Foundation, which promotes access to eco-friendly, reusable menstrual products and sustainable practices for women and girls across Sri Lanka.
The initiative highlighted the scale of period poverty in the country, where an estimated 40–60% of women and girls lack adequate menstrual products, households spend about 3.5% of monthly income on menstrual needs, and nearly 60% of girls miss school during menstruation. Approximately 963 million single-use menstrual products are discarded annually, underscoring the environmental impact.
More than 95 women and men participated, with support from corporate partners and print, radio and digital media sponsors. Funds raised will support community workshops, the distribution of reusable menstrual solutions and continued advocacy to address stigma and discrimination linked to menstruation.
Don’t hide behind screens! Stand against abuse!
In parallel, the club focused its 16 Days advocacy on technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV), using daily social media posts and a video campaign aired on a central-city billboard for 30 days, 100 times daily.
The campaign educated the public on forms of TFGBV, including online harassment, cyberstalking, image-based sexual abuse, doxxing and hate speech, emphasizing that online violence is a serious extension of gender-based violence. The initiative highlighted how digital abuse disproportionately affects women and girls in Sri Lanka and globally, limiting participation, silencing voices and increasing vulnerability.
The Zonta Club of Ashtabula Area, USA, was honored by receiving Resolution No. 2025-210, from the Ashtabula City Council on 15 December.
Councilwoman Jodi Mills introduced Zonta, while Councilwoman Jane Digiacomo read the resolution, highlighting Zonta’s efforts to inform residents about the prevalence of domestic violence and the resources available for survivors, stating “…during the 16 Days of Activism Campaign and its dedication to advocacy, education and community engagement to advance the safety and well-being of all individuals within our community.”
Zonta clubs across Latvia organized a series of initiatives to combat gender-based violence.
The Zonta Club of Valmiera, Latvia, launched a book exhibition at the Valmiera Integrated Library titled “Scars. Visible and Invisible.” Featuring modern literature, the exhibition highlighted hidden forms of violence and encouraged public dialogue about abuse often kept silent. The collection included accounts of domestic violence in Latvia from women’s and teenagers’ perspectives, stories of African women facing forced marriage, and works addressing child exploitation, toxic adolescent relationships and systemic abuse in Egypt.
The Zonta Club of Riga marked the 16 Days of Activism with activities at the NGO House and the Riga Central Library Branch, combining public outreach with daily inspirational stories shared on Facebook.
Meanwhile, the Zonta Club of Ogre, Zonta e-Club of Latvia and Zonta Club of Jelgava strengthened digital engagement by posting daily slogans and stories on social media, emphasizing that violence is often a local issue and encouraging individuals to build awareness and resilience.
During the holiday season, the Zonta Club of Montgomery, AL, USA, visited a mother and her son who were new to the Sunshine Center and had recently escaped a violent situation. The members provided support, comfort and gifts to the small family.
On 12 December, the Zonta Club of Isabela, Philippines, marked the holiday season with a community outreach at Rang-ayan National High School, providing education, health services and support to approximately 300 students and community members.
The program emphasized empowerment through knowledge and protection. Dr. Jaynee C. Saure led a youth-focused health lecture, “Tamang Kaalaman, Tamang Desisyon: HIV at STDs for Teens,” equipping participants with accurate information to support informed and responsible health decisions. Judge Ramorelia Pitpit Lodriguito-Caranay also delivered an important discussion on Republic Act No. 11930, the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children Act, highlighting digital safety and collective responsibility in protecting children.
In the spirit of Christmas, the club complemented the educational sessions with basic health services, nutritious meals and gift-giving.
The Zonta Club of Isabela expressed its gratitude to Rang-ayan National High School Principal Sherwin C. Manaligod for his support, as well as to generous sponsors and partners, including Zonta Club of Isabela members, Dra. Mau Ocampo and Unilab, whose contributions helped make the outreach possible.
Join us in saying NO 