Zonta International

Zonta International is a leading global organization empowering women worldwide through service and advocacy.[2]

Zonta International envisions a world in which women’s rights are recognized as human rights and every woman is able to achieve her full potential.
In such a world, women have access to all resources and are represented in decision-making positions on an equal basis with men.
In such a world, no woman lives in fear of violence.[3]

• Amelia Earhart, American aviation pioneer and author.
• Helvi Sipilä, Finnish diplomat,lawyer and politican.

Women have made great strides in the pursuit of education, careers and leadership roles they were once denied, but there is still a long way to go before women have the same educational and professional opportunities as their male counterparts. Zonta International seeks to provide these opportunities through a number of educational programs and awards. Zonta has awarded nearly US$14 million in scholarships. Each education program is funded by the Zonta Foundation for Women.

Established in 1938 in honor of famed pilot and Zontian Amelia Earhart, the Amelia Earhart (AE) Fellowship is awarded annually to women pursuing Ph.D./doctoral degrees in aerospace engineering and space sciences. The AE Fellowship of US$10,000, awarded to up to 30 fellows around the globe each year, may be used at any university or college offering accredited post-graduate courses and degrees in these fields.[ref]https://zonta.org/aefellowship[/ref]

Fellowship recipients include:

• Noël Bakhtian
• Sallie Baliunas
• Andrea M. Ghez
• Tanya Harrison
• Diane Lemaire
• Wendy Okolo
• Janice E. Voss
• Naoko Yamazaki

Established in 1998 from a generous bequest by a past Zonta International Parliamentarian Jane M. Klausman (1990-1995), the Jane M. Klausman (JMK) Women in Business Scholarship is awarded annually to women pursuing undergraduate or master's degrees in business management or information technology. The program operates at the Zonta club, district/region and international levels. Zonta clubs provide awards for club recipients. Clubs submit their winners to each of Zonta’s 32 districts. Starting in 2022, the selected recipient of each district wins the international award of US$5,000. The top five districts with the largest membership will award an additional scholarship, for a total of up to 37 scholarships each year.[10]

From 2018-2022, Zonta International supported the Zonta International Women in Technology Scholarship, a pilot program, to encourage women to pursue education, career opportunities and leadership roles in information technology. In 2019, 30 district/regional recipients were awarded US$2,000 each and six international recipients received US$8,000 each. In 2022, Zonta awarded 20 scholarships of US$8,000 each.[11]

Established in 1990 by Past International President Leneen Forde, the Young Women in Public Affairs Award honors young women, ages 16 to 19, who demonstrate a commitment to leadership in public policy, government and volunteer organizations. The program operates at the Zonta club, district/region and international levels. Clubs submit their winners to each of Zonta’s 32 districts. Starting in 2023, the selected recipient of each district wins the international award of US$5,000. The top five districts with the largest membership will award an additional scholarship, for a total of up to 37 scholarships each year.[12]

Of the 6,155 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with consultative status at the United Nations (UN), only 141 have general consultative status, the highest status an NGO can have at the UN. Zonta International was granted general consultative status in 1969.[14]

The Zonta International UN Committee teams represent Zonta in New York at the UN Headquarters, Geneva (Human Rights, ILO, WHO), Vienna (UNODC), Bangkok (ESCAP) and at UNESCO in Paris. The teams ensure that Zonta’s priorities are presented and that the Zonta voice is clear in mission-related meetings at their respective sites. They meet and work with decision-makers from UN agencies and countries where Zonta has funded projects and/or where Zonta clubs reside.

The current priority area of focus is the Sustainable Development Goals, which set the UN agenda through 2030, concentrating on Goal 5 and areas that relate to women’s empowerment. The teams also monitor and report on ongoing issues such as human trafficking, women’s employment, human rights, the gender pay gap, and much more. Team members work in coalition with other like-minded organizations, especially via NGO committees, on issues of mutual concern, such as early, child and forced marriage.[15]

The Council of Europe (CoE) is Europe’s leading inter-governmental human rights organization working with its 47 member states to strengthen human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Zonta International has been represented at the Council of Europe since 1983 and is one of the 320 international nongovernmental organizations enjoying participatory status at the Conference of INGOs, the body representing civil society in the CoE.[16]

As an NGO with general consultative status, Zonta International is invited to participate in the annual Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York. The CSW is the largest annual gathering on women’s rights worldwide, and is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. The CSW is instrumental in promoting women’s rights, documenting the reality of women’s lives throughout the world, and shaping global standards on gender equality and the empowerment of women.

Zonta International is passionate about providing life-changing opportunities for women and girls through international service. By partnering with agencies of the United Nations and other recognized non-governmental organizations, Zonta has improved women’s health, provided better economic opportunities and prevented gender-based violence in 66 countries. Since its first service project in 1923, Zonta has contributed more than US$32.7 million to our international service projects.[17]

Zonta has partnered with organizations such as the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), UNICEF USA, UN Women, the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to carry out its international service projects.

Globally, gender-based violence is the most pervasive and least recognized human rights violation. Zonta International strives to promote and protect the human rights of all women and girls and reduce the incidence of violence. From 1996 to 2020, more than US$9.5 million was provided to support projects in 46 countries. Beginning in 2020, all of Zonta International’s service projects are supported by the International Service Fund.[18]

Established in 1948, the Z club and Golden Z club program is one of Zonta International's longest-running programs. Z clubs and Golden Z clubs help high school, college and university students develop leadership skills, promote career exploration and encourage members to participate in community, school and international service projects.[19] With the help of experienced Zonta sponsors, who provide resources, information and guidance, Z club members (high school students) and Golden Z club members (college or university students) work to improve their society and the world. There are currently more than 280 Z clubs and Golden Z clubs in 19 countries.

A Zontian can be a member of an individual club or an individual member of Zonta International.

Zonta International is led by four democratically elected officers and seven elected international directors who make up the Zonta International Board. Board members are elected by ballot vote at the biennial convention and take office at the close of the convention. It is the role of the Zonta International Board to determine policy and provide general oversight of Zonta International; the role of Zonta International Headquarters staff is to implement that policy.

Zonta International committees play a key role in assisting Zonta International in achieving the biennial goals in coordination with the Zonta International Board. Committee chairmen and members are appointed for the next biennium by the president-elect with the approval of the Zonta International Board.

The Zonta Foundation for Women (previously the Zonta International Foundation) carries out the charitable objectives of Zonta International and is organized exclusively for charitable purposes. Zonta International is the sole corporate member of its Foundation. The affairs of the Foundation are managed by its Board of Directors who also serve as the Board of Zonta International.

For administrative purposes, Zonta International is divided into 31 districts and one region worldwide, as determined by the Zonta International Board. Each district and region is administered by an elected board led by the governor or regional representative. The district/region board assists clubs and promotes the programs of Zonta International within their district/region.

With majority approval of the clubs affected, district boards outline boundaries and establish areas within their districts to implement administrative functions. Each area is administered by an area director, elected by the clubs in that area.

The individual Zonta club is the basic organizational unit of Zonta International. Clubs are organized with 20-100 members or Zontians, who pursue Zonta's mission and goals through service and advocacy. Each club is under the direction of an elected club president and elected club board.