Zonta and UN Relations Women’s Global March Month The shining globe outside the UN building in NY is a symbol for the worldwide work for Human Rights. Zonta and hundreds of other NGO’s meet every March together with member states’ delegations in The Commission on the Status of women (CSW). Photo shows two Norwegian Zontians from District 13 at CSW in 2017. In connection to this presentation you can also watch the You Tube movie «Gender equality means empowering women and girls» (UN Women; 2 min). Here is the link address on You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbhjXK2mMe8 Ideas for Zonta Clubs in District 13 By UN Committee in D-13 June 2019 Astrid Grude Eikseth, Hanne Friis, Elsemette Cassoe Hildur Helga Gisladottir, Ruta Jasioniene

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

Women’s Global March Month is presented in 3 themes Annual meetings in CSW in New York – for the status of Women Sustainable Development Goals – to be reached in 2030 International Women’s Day 8 March – celebrated in District 13

The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) started in 1946 and is a commission of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Zonta has consultative status in ECOSOC. CSW is dedicated exclusively to promote gender equality and the advancement of women. 12.-23. March the states, UN entities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are gathered in CSW.

In 2018 the priority theme is: «… gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls.” The review theme is: “Participation in and access of women to the media, information and communications technologies ….”. The NGOs are important for critical evaluation of progress or lack of progress. Stronger obligation for the nations is necessary to fulfill the SDGs and the Beijing Platform for Actions from the 4th UN Women Conference. D-13 Zontians in CSW 2017: Governor Ingibjörg Eliasfottir and Cecilie Gulbrandsen, Stavanger Zonta Club. In 2018 D-13 Governor Ingibjörg Eliasdottir, member of D-13 UN Committee Hildur Helga Gisladottir and Trondheim Zonta Club President Ruth Fagerhaug participated in CSW62. Also Astrid Grude Eikseth and Hanne Friis have participated during their periods of Chairmen of UN (and CoE) Committees. The Icelandic and Danish Zontians are included in the official delegation, while Norweigian Zontians are invited to meetings with their UN Misskion to exchange points and strategi Zonta International sends statements to CSW on the priority theme and cooperates with other NGO’s to get vital points into the outcome document. This is Zonta advocacy work at the global level.

The Secretary-General and NGOs in a historic Town Hall Meeting In 2017 the new SG Antonio Gutteres said: «I know many women who are not feminists. And I know many men who are feminists – but do’nt ask me to use instrumnets that I dont have.» This means that the SG knows very well the claims of the feminist movement, but it is the member states that decide how to realize the empowering of women and girls. Also in 2018 he invites to a Town Hall meeting. A progressive SG Antonio Gutteres answers questions from NGO’s. The Hall boiled bv eagerness, expectations and critique.

Parallell events outside UN building Opening the Door to Economic Power for Women and Girls - Grass root examples. Hosted by The Soroptimists. President Sonja Hönig Schough in ZI was moderator, 2017. Violence Against Indigenous Women- Documented by research. Hosted by Norw. Samii Parliament and FOKUS, 2017.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2015-2030 Adopted in UN 25. september 2015, a great day! Zonta and other NGO’s fought for «gender equality and empowering women and girls» as a stand alone goal. They succeeded with SDG 5. But the other 16 SDGs cannot be reached without SDG 5 as a prerequisite, says Zonta.

HLPF follows how the 17 SDG’s are implemented and meets every July. HLPF cooperates with governments, civil society and NGO’s and is very concerned about grass root experiences. Zonta played an active role when HLPF reviewed SDG 5 in 2017: Zonta made a report to HLPF and mentioned a lot of club projects about SDG 5, many from Distirct 13. Zonta took took part in discussions and events, especially a side event on «Child, Early and forced Marriage» with 80 people. Local projects are important for the global, international agenda! Clubs in District 13 reported 45 local projects on SDG 5 and women issues in 2016 to ZI, by D-13 UN Committee Chairman, Astrid Grude Eikseth.

This day goes back to 1908 in New York. UN declared 8 This day goes back to 1908 in New York. UN declared 8. March as The International Women Day under The Women Decade in 1977. We celebrate the advancement of women and girls, but also campaign to to get full gender equality and free women and girls from all kinds of violence.

What happens in D-13 on International Women Day? Egersund Zonta Club in 2018: Psycologist Zoia Grannes tells from her childhood in a concentration camp in Sibir. Scholarship 2017 and Zonta price 2107. The movie «The Post». Collected money goes to Zonta. Alytus Zonta Club celebrates 8. March and organizes Zonta Yellow Rose dancing evening. Collected money went to facilities for „Drevinukas“ kindergarten, children with cerebral paralysis.

The International Women Day in D-13 Sunna Zonta Club, Iceland Eygló Harðardóttir, former minister of social affairs, chairs the Zonta seminar on March 8, 2017. Women's status with endometrium in the healthcare system: Quality of life and treatment options.

The International Women Day in D-13 Aarhus Zonta Club The women's House is a meeting place and activity house, for all women - regardless of cultural background, religion and place of life. 8. March 2016, Aarhus Zonta held a support event for the Women's House. The club supported with DKK 10,000 and the event brought a total of DKK 25.000.  

We shall not rest….