Zonta Clubs around the world unite for 16 Days of Activism, 25 November to 10 December each year, to highlight the Zonta International Campaign to eliminate violence against women and girls. 25 November each year is the United Nations Day for the elimination of violence against women and 10 December, United Nations Day for Human Rights

In the lead up to and during the 16 days of action, clubs take to the streets of their neighbourhoods, towns and cities organising a wide range of “orange events” to emphasize the importance of individual and community activism to end violence

WHY THE COLOUR “ORANGE”?

The United Nations Secretary-General’s Campaign UNiTE to End Violence against Women has proclaimed the 25th of each month as ‘Orange Day’, a day to raise awareness and take action against violence against women and girls.

WHAT ARE THE KEY MESSAGES OF THE CAMPAIGN?

  • Both men and women experience substantial levels of violence;
  • Domestic, Family and sexual violence is overwhelmingly committed by men against women;
  • The majority of people who experience domestic violence are women; and
  • DV knows no boundaries and occurs in all strata of society.

We need to change our attitude about women and our behaviour to build respectful and positive relationships.

2025 ACTIVITIES

With the 2024 16 Days of Activism now over plans are already being made for a bigger and better campaign in 2025.  Plans are already in place for our Annual Fellowship Walk in Brisbane on 26 November 2025 and the 10th Paint the Bayside Orange Breakfast on 25 November 2025 at the Wynnum Manly Leagues Club.  Further activities will be announced in coming weeks.

A summary of Club activities in 2024 along with some photos is below.  Enjoy the memories-

 

2024 ZONTA SAYS NO (ZSN) CAMPAIGN  ACTIVITIES BY DISTRICT 22 CLUBS

In 2024 Clubs across District 22 undertook many and varied activities to support the campaign.  Activities included displaying large ZSN banners in prominent positions, lighting infrastructure orange, placement of “Orange” women (plywood cut outs) in prominent locations e.g. businesses, ferry terminals, libraries etc (these silhouettes have information on violence against women as well as safety information for victims of domestic violence) holding function with special guests speakers, seeking publicity in local media and conducting a major social media campaign.  The social media campaign showcased Club activities and provided information and statistics on the incidence of domestic and family violence and the support services available to victims of violence.

Clubs are congratulated on their achievements during the 16 Days of Activism.

During and in the lead-up to the 16 Days of Activism Zontians issued press releases and received media attention via interview and articles in the press and a pod cast.  All Clubs were active on social media posting statistical and general information on domestic and family violence in Australia. Examples of the coverage are below:

Banners

  • 18 November -1 December District 22 Banner hung across the Turbot Street, Brisbane Overpass 25 November – 8 December
  • Banners hung Redcliffe Youth Space, 1 banner at Bicentennial Park, 1 at Mango Hill, and 1 at John Newman Hall Deception Bay
  • 2 at Sheep Station Creek and 1 at McLean Street
  • 1 at Lawnton and 1 at Arana Hills
  • Cowboys Leagues Club, Townsville
  • Gladstone Hockey Association and NRG Power Station fences

Since 2017 Zonta Clubs in the southeast corner have had a Committee to coordinate and promote actions.  The first major initiative was to arrange a walk around the Brisbane CBD to view the infrastructure lit orange.  The walk, organised by the Zonta Club of Brisbane Sunrise Inc, lasts from between 30 minutes (short version) to a longer walk lasting about 90 minutes allowing for photo opportunities.  The walk is open to all Zontians, friends and family and is followed by an informal fellowship activity.  Numbers have grown each year.

A SUMMARY OF ACTIONS OF BRISBANE AND NEAR BRISBANE ZONTA CLUBS:

  • A large Zonta Says NO banner hung across the overpass on Turbot Street for two weeks (the Bridge is a major gateway to and from Brisbane City;
  • A LightBox in King George Square;
  • City Hall and King George Square lit orange
  • Sandgate Town Hall lit orange;
  • The Story Bridge, Victoria Bridge, Sir Leo Hielscher Bridge, Reddacliff Place sculptures Donna Marcus: Steam ,  Wickham Terrace Car park, Tropical Dome and Breakfast Creek lit orange;
  • The UofQ building (formerly Treasury Casino) lit orange;
  • St Stephens Cathedral lit orange;
  • A Paint the Bayside Orange” Breakfast with Guest Speaker, Wynnum Manly Leagues Club; and
  • A massed display of the orange silhouettes and information stall in Bunyara Park, West End.

A SUMMARY OF ACTIONS OF ZONTA CLUBS OUTSIDE THE BRISBANE METROPOLITAN AREA:

ZONTA CLUB OF BEAUDESERT AREA INC

  • ZSN Stall in town centre;
  • Orange silhouettes displayed;
  • Large Banner displayed in town; and
  • A Walk Against Violence starting from Beaudesert Police Station
  • Statements of support from local politicians and businesses

ZONTA CLUB OF BLACKALL RANGE INC

ZONTA CLUB OF BOWEN INC

  • Large Banner displayed at the Whitsunday Regional Council;
  • Banners displayed;
  • Static display of ZSN materials in prominent town window location; and

ZONTA CLUB OF BUNDABERG INC

  • 16 Days Calendar layout 

    • 25 November 2024 – Christ Church Anglican Church – 9.15 Campaign Launch Buss Park), 9.30 am ‘Ringing of the Bells’ in remembrance of women who have lost their lives through domestic violence, 10.00am Special Prayer Service, 11.00am walk around Buss Park, 11.10am Morning Tea in Church Hall
    • 25 November 2024 – Lighting of the Fig Trees on Walker Street near the Multiplex complex and the Auswide Bank Building
    • 28 November 2024 – Breakfast at Brother’s  Sports Club
    • 29 November 2024 – Browse the Red Heart messages on our Remembrance Trees, located in the foyers of Bundaberg Base Hospital and Bundaberg Regional Council
    • 30 November 2024- 12.00-2.00pm –  View the Red Shoes Project Art Installation behind Fairymead House representing the women who have lost their lives due to gender-based violence
    • 1 December 2024 – Bunnings Sausage Sizzle
    • 2 December 2024 –  Listen to the podcast “Getting stronger together” through Impact Community Services’ Weekly Podcast
    • 5 December 2024 – Engage with the Zonta Club of Bundaberg at the Pageant of the Lights Parade
    • 7 December2024 – 6.45am – ParkRun, Bagara – Nielsen Park Bargara – run along the beautiful Bargara Esplanade and into the Turtle Trail
    • 8 December 2024 – Information stall at Shalom Markets
    • 10 December 2024 – Christ Church Anglican Church – 9:00am at Buss Park close the calendar of events for the 16 Days of Activism Campaign, 9.15  am Hear the ‘Ringing of the Bells’ in remembrance of the women and children who have died because of gender-based violence in 2024 including the last 16 days, 10.00 am  Special Prayer Service at Christ Church Anglican Church with prayers and reflection on domestic and family violence, 11.00 am walk around Buss Park to mark the conclusion of the 16 Days of Activism Campaign to end Violence Against Women, 11.10 am Morning Tea in the Church Hall. Take time today to sit and reflect on one of the 5 Red Benches provided by the Red Rose Foundation. They are located at Bundaberg Base Hospital, Churches of Christ, Bundaberg Neighbourhood Centre, Anglican Church in Buss Park and Alexandra Park

 

ZONTA CLUB OF BRISBANE CITY HEART INC

  • 25 November 2024 – At Parliament House Economic Empowerment afternoon focussing on  Lifting Women out of Poverty. Speakers include – Qld Police Commissioner, Jonty Bush MP member for Cooper, QLD Small Business Commissioner as part of a panel discussion

ZONTA CLUB OF BRISBANE EAST INC

  • 29 November 2024 – Paint the Bayside Orange Breakfast, Wynnum Manly Leagues Club
  • Orange Silhouettes in businesses and offices
  • Training of facilitators for the LOVEBiTES program

ZONTA CLUB OF BRISBANE NORTH INC

  • 24 November 2024 – Movie Afternoon – “The President’s Wife” – Dendy Theatre 2.45pm
  • 5-7 December 2024 – “Circus in a Teacup” Arts sector transformative project between Vulcana and BDVS involving women survivors being involved is a circus theme performance which builds strength and confidence The project culminated in 3 performances at QPAC

ZONTA CLUB OF BRISBANE RIVER INC

  • 23 & 30 November & 7 December 2024 – Stall at Bunyapa Park, cnr Vulture St & Thomas St, West End with 15 orange silhouettes and flags to focus on raising awareness plus provision of evidence based information and provision of referral options to creditable services.  The focus was on coercive control and the theme around raising the orange flag  around violence – the grey areas that it may be signs of coercive control.
  • Metro South Hospital and Health Services undertook numerous activities as part of their DV Plan.  These included raising awareness through the use of 17 orange silhouettes provided by the club.  Orange silhouettes were mainly at PAH with 2  utilised at their 2 satellite hospitals at Redland Bay and Eight Miles Plains

ZONTA CLUB OF BURDEKIN INC

  • Large ZSN Banner on St Francis School fence along main highway into Ayr
  • Large orange silhouettes at at Burdekin Library, Police Station, Ayr Medical Centre and Home Hill Medical Centre
  • Article and photos in local newspaper
  • Placement of 4 red benches in the community
  • Purchase 30 perspex frames which will be placed on the back of female toilet doors at the local hotels and the hospital showing information of relevant local emergency contacts for domestic violence assistance.
  • Purchase 1,000 (wallet size) emergency contacts cards for domestic violence assistance and distribute these to the local police station, paramedics, and medical centres.

ZONTA CLUB OF CABOOLTURE INC

  • Local radio interviews;
  • Zonta Says No Banners displayed at Apex Park and at Sheep Station Creek;
  • Caboolture Square lit orange;
  • 46 orange figures allocated to local libraries, swimming pools, Burpengary Police Station, Planet Fitness, World Gym, charity organisations and businesses with the name and age of a woman or child who died as a result of domestic violence in the past 12 months;
  • Stall and display at Morayfield Shopping Centre; and
  • In collaboration with Bunnings Morayfield planting a garden with a floral shaped orange ”Z” at the Burpengary Police Station supporting the survivors of Domestic Violence.

ZONTA CLUB OF CAIRNS INC

  • Add EDU-SAFE books in each of the libraries in the Region along with activities in each library to engage children.  The Books may be borrowed from 26 September 2024
  • 25 November – 10 December 2024 – Displays in Libraries
  • 31 October and 1 November 2024 “Its a Mans Issue” workshops for students 12-18 years old
  • DV Safe Phone Collection Boxes

ZONTA CLUB OF CALOUNDRA CITY INC

  • Corflute signs along Nicklin War from Caloundra to Kawana, Caloundra Road, Caloundra Community Centre,  Caloundra and Beerwah Libraries

 

ZONTA CLUB OF CHARTERS TOWERS INC 

  • City Hall lit orange;
  • Sausage Sizzle at Mitre 10;
  • ZSN walk; and
  • Displays of orange silhouettes

ZONTA CLUB OF GLADSTONE INC

  • Display on Hockey Fields Fencing Central Gladstone displaying the number of women deaths for the year;
  • 10 Corflutes Distributed to prominent locations;
  • Over 35 Orange silhouettes displayed at Organisations/Businesses throughout Gladstone;
  • Orange light-ups at Gladstone Regional Council and Gladstone Ports Corporation;
  • Club Breakfast at the end of 16 Days celebrating Orange and 16 Days Social Media sharing, hashtags, tagging and scheduled community awareness;
  • Video Recorded Messages leading up to and over the 16 days regularly posted on social media;
  • Club dinner member meeting with an Orange partial theme in November to promote the 16 days of Activism;
  • Participate in the walk “Reclaim the Night “event wearing orange shirts and displaying, banners and signage;
  • Pre-posts of Zonta 16 days of Activism of events and supporters; and
  • Video recorded messages from leaders in the community around what 16 Days of Activism against gender violence means to them and the theme UNITE.

ZONTA CLUB OF HERVEY BAY INC

  • Display orange silhouettes to organisations and businesses
  • 1 December 2024 – Ringing of the bells at St Johns Anglican Church at 11.00am and encourage other churches in Hervey Bay to ring their bells at the same time
  • Seeking approval for ZSN banner at the corner of Magnolia
  •

IPSWICH ZONTA INC

  • Campaign Launch, Tulmur Place, City Centre with speaker and invited dignities;
  • Council Building in Nicholas Street lit orange;
  • Red Bench placed in Tulmur Place; and
  • Placing emergency contact phone numbers on back of toilet doors.

ZONTA CLUB OF MACKAY INC

  • ZSN Dinner at Ocean International;
  • Mackay Regional Council Building lit orange;
  • Orange silhouettes displayed at Mackay Hospital, Mackay Regional Libraries, Trudy Cowley Foundation and The Neighbourhood Hub; and
  • Newspaper column in the Mackay Whitsunday Life.

ZONTA CLUB OF MAROOCHY INC

  • Community Awareness Project – Buhk Park, Alexandra Paradise

ZONTA CLUB OF MARYBOROUGH INC

  • Promotion ay Maryborough Speedway & Burnout;
  • Banner displayed at Wallaroo Hockey Club;
  • Walk Against Violence from City Hall to Elizabeth Rose Gardens;
  • Unveiling of Orange Bench in Elizabeth Rose Gardens; and
  • City Buildings lit orange.​

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ZONTA CLUB OF MOUNT ISA INC

  • White Ribbon Breakfast at Terrace Garden, and
  • ZSN Coffee cups distributed to the community through coffee outlets.

ZONTA CLUB OF NOOSA INC

  • Banner displayed in the main street;
  • Tree in Hastings Street lit orange;
  • PowerPoint display the Bendigo Bank Tewantin-Noosa with Zontians staffing stall during lunch hour;
  • Display in Noosa Library; and
  • Riverside Walk and Candlelight Vigil – River Stage, Lions Park, Noosaville.

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ZONTA CLUB OF NORTHERN RIVERS INC

  • Banner on the Bruxner Highway in Lismore;
  • 20 orange silhouettes displayed in shops, business and cafes; and
  • Walk Against Violence in Ballina.

ZONTA CLUB OF NORTHSIDE INC

  • Orange silhouettes at Bracken Ridge Tavern, Aspley Hornets & Bonnyview Hôtel:
  • Billboard message Salvation Army Taigum;
  • Large Banner outside Bonnyview Hotel, Bald Hills; and
  • 12 metre Orange Mural on Community Wall, Bracken Ridge Plaza and Nundah
    Community Village.

ZONTA CLUB OF PARADISE POINT INC

  • Orange Silhouettes in businesses, organisations, MPs offices; and
  • Attend screening of “The Fort”

ZONTA CLUB OF PINE RIVERS INC

  • Large banner Leis Park Lawnton near the entrance to the University and Leslie Patrick Park, Arana Hills;
  • Birthing Kit Assembly Day;
  • Free event Movie “The Last Drop”, BCC Cinemas, Strathpine;
  • Bunnings Sausage Sizzle, Carseldine; and
  • Christmas Hampers to the Centre Against Domestic Abuse, Strathpine;

ZONTA CLUB OF REDCLIFFE INC

  • 25 November 2024 – Orange Activism Breakfast, The Como Redcliffe
  • ZSN Banners – prominently displayed as listed above
  • Orange Lighting –  the Light Horse Monument orange at Mango Hill, the Redcliffe Administration Building, Caboolture Hub and Humpybong Fountain orange along with various Trees around the Peninsula and exploring the Strathpine Building
  • Article re Breakfast in Moreton Daily 26 November 2024

ZONTA CLUB OF ROCKHAMPTON INC 

ZONTA CLUB OF ROMA INC

  • 25 November – 4 December 2024 – Lights in main street lit orange
  • 30 November 2024 – Stall in the shopping centre
  • 6 December 2024 – Breakfast with the Allison Baden-Clay Foundation, Roma Community Gardens
  • Displays of orange silhouette in businesses
  • Installation of notices behind toilet doors with advice on DV support

ZONTA STANTHORPE INC

  • 29 November 2024 – Candlelight vigil in the town Piazza followed by community walk
  • Requesting Council approval of  requesting orange lighting on trees,  traffic islands and the town’s central Weeroona Park
  • Requesting Council approval for a trail of adhesive footprint cut outs to be stuck along public foot paths in town where people can write names in memory of loved ones who were victims of domestic violence.  Battery tealight candles will bring attention to these for the duration of the 16 days of activism.

ZONTA CLUB OF THE WHITSUNDAYS INC

  • Banner on the hill coming into Airlie Beach
  • 30 November 2024 – Stall at Airlie Beach Markets
  • 11 Orange silhouettes hosted by local businesses
  • 19 November 2024 Article in “Whitsunday News
  • Red Bench at Shengley Beach

 

ZONTA CLUBS OF TOOWOOMBA INC, TOOWOOMBA GARDEN CITY INC AND ZONTA E-CLUB OF QUEENSLAND INC

  • Banner over Margaret Street, Queens Park, Toowoomba
  • Victoria Street Bridge (Toowoomba) to be lit Orange
  • Shopping Centre static shoe installation with names and ages of women who have lost their lives as a result of DV in Australia this year (58 at present) with postcard resource and QR Code to online petition  ○ Clifford Gardens Toowoomba Shopping Centre and Grand Central Toowoomba Shopping Centre
  • Change.org petition advocating that the Queensland Government invest in emergency accommodation for women at risk of homelessness because of DFV
  • 25 November 2024 – Static protest on Victoria Street Bridge from 5pm
  • 7 December 2024 from 7am – Toowoomba Farmers Market (eClub Qld) – Shoe installation, petition and postcards
  • Bunnings Sausage Sizzle, Dalby (eClub of Qld)
  • 10 December from 7am (Human Rights Day) Flag Raising Ceremony

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ZONTA CLUBS OF TOWNSVILLE INC,& TOWNSVILLE METRO INC

  • Market Day stall at Bunnings;
  • Banner displayed at the Cowboys Football Club; and
  • Participate in the Walk Against Violence.

ZONTA WARWICK INC

  • Banner displayed at Town Hall;
  • Town Hall lit orange;
  • Members attended the Warwick Anglican Church Service remembering victims of Domestic and Family Violence;
  • 10 life size orange women silhouettes  placed in businesses around town displaying; Zonta’s brochures / bookmarks / DV business sized cards
  • 15 small orange women silhouettes placed on counters in hairdressers, coffee shops etc displaying D&FV cards;
  • Display in the shopping centre, and
  • Interview with Community Radio before the launch to highlight what will be done in the area.

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ZONTA CLUB OF WYNNUM REDLAND INC

  • Cleveland Lighthouse lit orange

 

To find out more about this global campaign visit the Zonta Says No website.