United Nations

ZontaUSA is a UN US Women’s Caucus – Member

The aim of the US Women’s Caucus at the UN is for progressive US-based NGOs to have a larger, louder, smarter voice at the United Nations through means such as written statements, reviews of UN documents, and joint recommendations to the US Mission, the UN Commission on the Status of Women, and other UN bodies. To support this aim, we intend to reach into US states to promote and collaborate on the UN women’s agenda and advocacy for gender equality with women and girls of every class, race, culture, creed, sexual orientation, and gender identity, including those with disabilities. Membership in the US Women’s Caucus is open to US-based NGOs and individuals who are committed to the principles of CEDAW and the Beijing Platform for Action.

Goal No. 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

Each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals is integral to Sustainable Development; however, Zonta International’s primary focus is on Goal No. 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

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Helvi Sipilä   – Zonta Leader, UN Leader

Zonta Past International President Helvi Sipilä (1968- 1970), the first woman Assistant Secretary-General of the UN (1972-1980), served as Secretary General for the First World Conference on Women 1975 in Mexico.

Members of Zonta International have participated in subsequent conferences on women (Copenhagen 1980, Nairobi 1985, Beijing 1995). Sipilä went on to spearhead the establishment of UNIFEM, now UN Women.

Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women

Since 2012, the ongoing worldwide campaign “Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women” has featured service and advocacy actions of Zonta’s 1200 clubs in 67 countries to end violence against women and girls in their local communities.