Zonta International

International service organization

Zonta International is an international service organization with the mission of Building a Better World for Women and Girls, in support of Sustainable Development Goal 5.

The first Zonta Club was founded in Buffalo, New York, United States, in 1919 by a group of businesswomen under the leadership of Marian de Forest. It was organized along the lines of the Rotary Club, with one woman from each business classification admitted to the local club and all members required to give 60% of their time to the "work under which they are classified". Membership into Zonta International was a process, had strict membership regulations, and was considered a privilege. To become a member of Zonta International, one must have been a woman of high standing in her career field. By 1923 clubs had been established in New York City, Washington, D. C., Detroit, Cleveland, and Toledo, Ohio. The National President was Miss Harriet A. Ackroyd of Utica, New York. In 1926, aviator Amelia Earhart became a member of the Boston chapter. Earhart later transferred to the New York City Zonta chapter. Her sister, Muriel Morrissey, was also a Zonta member. Currently, Zonta International and the Zonta Foundation for Women is headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois. Notable Zonta International leaders have served in significant positions in the U. N. Member Helvi Sipila of Finland served as International President of Zonta prior to her service as Assistant Secretary General of the UN, and Zonta member Leticia Ramos Shahani of the Philippines also served as Assistant Secretary General of the UN. Zonta International today: The organization has more than 29,000 members in 62 countries. Zonta International has consultative status with the Council of Europe, the United Nations (UN), ILO, and several UN agencies. 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, Zonta International is accredited as a NGO at the UN office at Geneva. Zonta member Simone Ovart served as NGO CSW Geneva president 2015 2018, and held many roles in UN Geneva NGO events. Zonta International hosts and collaborates at CSW to sponsor events and parallel events highlighting relevant topics, including, with UNICEF USA organized two CSW 2019 parallel events, Achieving Sustainable Impact: Gender Equity Through Social Protections Is Imperative and Making It Stick: Sustainable Impact for Girls Through Innovation, Social Protection and Capacity Building, respectively. Zonta International joined the global campaign for Women's Rights in 1993, supporting the petition After Vienna and on to Beijing,.

Over the last century, Zonta has contributed more than US$45.9 million to empower women and girls and expand their access to education, health care, economic opportunities, and safe living conditions. The 2020 2022 grant cycle will provide US$5,280,000 for programs that address the root causes of gender discrimination and have the potential to bring about positive and sustainable societal changes. Through its long standing partnership with UNICEF,

Since 2012, Zonta has expanded its international Campaign, Zonta Says NO, an international campaign to raise awareness of and increase actions to end violence against women and girls around the world. This signature campaign features actions to prevent and end violence against women and girls in the communities of Zonta International’s more than 62 countries worldwide. Over the past five years Zonta has contributed more than USD 3 million towards UN Women efforts to end violence against women and girls around the world. “Around the world, foundations and businesses are prioritizing efforts to advance gender equality and women’s rights for they recognize that this is the key to development. Zonta International’s support on this front is exemplary,” said Lakshmi Puri, Deputy Executive Director of UN Women. “Zonta’s partnership with UN Women comes as a result of their long and solid history in the global effort to end violence against women and girls. Their support of programmes being implemented by UN Women and the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women has made an enormous impact on the safety of women and girls in many countries.” Zonta International joined forces with UN women to End Violence Against women thru their Safe Cities projects. in line with UN focus that "the climate crisis is a human rights crisis" Antonino Guterres. Empowering Girls on Climate Change: In 2022, Zonta began supporting Engaging Girls on Climate Change in Madagascar.

Zonta International's literacy programs in the 1980's underscored their commitment to equal access to education. (for current work see Educational Programs and Awards below)

Zonta Clubs and Members in the USA are members of the ERA Coalition, continuing to advocate for constitutional equality for Women in the USA, even after 100 years.

Trafficking in Persons is a human rights abuse. Eliminating human trafficking is critical to enabling women to achieve their full potential and live without fear of exploitation and violence. Zonta clubs around the world educate and collaborate in their communities with law enforcement and survivors of human trafficking.

Zonta International, through its Foundation: Zonta Foundation for Women (formerly the Zonta International Foundation), seeks to provide opportunities for women through a number of educational programs and awards.

Zonta International's Young Women in Public Affairs Award honors young women aged from 16 to 19 with a scholarship. particularly on behalf of women and girls.

Established in 1948, the Z Club and Golden Z Club program is one of Zonta International's longest running programs.