Zonta International, districts and clubs advocate at the international, national and local
levels on issues related to human rights and gender equality. At the international level, Zonta
International advocates on global issues primarily through the United Nations (UN) and
Council of Europe. At the national level, Zonta districts, areas and clubs take action in support
of, or in opposition to, legislation on issues affecting women and girls. At the local level,
Zonta clubs monitor laws and policies and their impact on women, participate in hearings and
public meetings with local politicians and administrators, and host speakers and panels to
raise awareness about issues affecting women in their local communities.
The Zonta International UN Committee teams represent Zonta in New York at UN
Headquarters; in Geneva at the UN Office and ILO headquarters; in Vienna at the UN Office;
and in Paris at UNESCO. 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 for the next 15 years, 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 on issues of mutual concern, such as early and child marriage.