Service & Advocacy

Zonta International is a leading global organization of professionals empowering women worldwide through service and advocacy. 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 equal basis with men. In such a world, no woman lives in fear of violence.

Zonta International is divided into 32 districts worldwide. Districts establish areas within their districts to implement administrative functions. Each area is comprised of clubs that pursue Zonta’s mission and goals through service and advocacy.

Zonta International has consultative status with the U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the UN International Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the Council of Europe. Zonta maintains operational relations with the UN Education, Scientific and Cultural organization (UNESCO) and has representatives at the UN sites in Geneva, New York, Paris and Vienna. The representatives participate very diligently with informed comments on all legislation pertaining to women.

Over the last 15 years Zonta International has helped 700,000 women and girls through its international service initiatives, contributing US$2.4 million for women in over 20 countries through projects implemented in conjunction with United Nations agencies.

In conjunction with UNIFEM, UNICEF, INSTRAW, UNESCO, Zonta has participated in income generating developmental projects for women in Argentina, Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil, Chile, Comoros Islands, Egypt, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Mexico, Nigeria, the Philippines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sir Lanka, Togo, Thailand, Uruguay, and Zimbabwe. Since 1998, Zonta is working in partnership with UNICEF for the prevention of Female Genital Mutilation in Burkina Faso, W. Africa, and the education of the girl child in South Africa.