WHAT'S NEW President's Message on World AIDS Day 1 December 2008 1 December this year marks the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day. Today, women account of half of all people living with HIV worldwide.* This Biennium Zonta is focusing on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission through our support of UNICEF's Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV in Rwanda. To meet the urgent needs of Rwanda’s women and children, this project will: > Strengthen and expand existing projects to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV to meet the full range of needs of HIV-positive women and their families; > Improve the health system by training personnel on service provision, management, monitoring and evaluation; and > Partner with communities in caring for women and families affected by HIV/AIDS. * (Source: http://womenandaids.unaids.org/) 25 November 2008 Congratulations Australia! Zontians across the world congratulate Australia for moving to become a party to the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Australia has been a party to CEDAW since 1983. The announcement came on the eve of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. "Acceding to the Optional Protocol will send a strong message that Australia is serious about promoting gender equality and that we are prepared to be judged by international human rights standards," said Minister for the Status of Women Tanya Plibersek. President's Message: Eliminating Violence Against Women 25 November is the start of 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence. Let us focus these 16 days on the elimination of violence against women by highlighting the Zonta projects: > Safe Cities for Women, an International Service Program project This new Zonta project in cooperation with UNIFEM is designed to increase the safety of women in Guatemala City and in San Salvador. ZISVAW Projects > Ending Violence against Women in Cambodia This project supports the implementation of laws on the Protection of Domestic Violence and Protection of Victims through community action in Cambodia. > Combating Physical Violence Against Women in Egypt This project includes the implementation of laws prohibiting the performance of genital mutilation in Egypt. > Center for Housing and Rehabilitation for Women Victims of Violence in Syria This innovative project will develop a high-quality One-Stop Center to provide effective services for women survivors of violence, particularly those living in poverty, in Syria. Read more about each of these programs and projects in the Program Issue of The Zontian, or see International Programs on this Web site. Over the Biennium, all Zontians and friends of Zonta are encouraged to contribute to our ZISVAW and International Service Funds to ensure that we can continue to support less fortunate women worldwide. These international programs reflect the internationalism of Zonta and are enhanced by our partnering with the United Nations agencies. One outstanding example is our partnership with UNIFEM, the United Nations Development Fund for Women. Zonta is currently a highly valued partner for UNIFEM, as well as for the UN Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence Against Women. I take great pride in the accomplishments of our organization’s effort to support eliminating violence against women. I want to thank you for your part in improving the lives of women worldwide through your commitment and support of our Zonta goals, and encourage you to continue your generous humanitarianism. Beryl Sten, President 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence 25 November - 10 December 2008

Take Action

Say NO to Violence against Women
More than five million said No to violence against women. On 25 November, all names were handed to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in a broadbased call for governments to take action to end violence against women and girls.

16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence
25 November - 10 December 2008

2008-2010 Zonta International Board

The 2008-2010 Zonta International Board was installed at the 2008 Zonta International Convention in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. 

Top row (l-r): Heddy Tangen Steffensen, Ragna Karlsdottir and Maria Victoria P. Vergel de Dios. Middle row (l-r): Dilruba Ahmed, Lynn Goodhue, Ingeborg Geyer and Kerry Dixon-Fox. Bottom row (l-r): Lynn McKenzie, Dianne Curtis, Beryl Sten and Gloria Stootman Wristen.

2008 Women in Business Recipients

Zonta International awarded 12 international Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarships. Chloe Jarratt (Australia) knew very early that her destiny was to be a business woman. “I loved mathematics all through my schooling years … I became inspired by my love of numbers to pursue a career in accounting,” she said. “I believe women are the future of business and especially business success. Commerce today is still highly male dominated within higher positions of organizations. I would love for more and more women to be able to put their names to these executive titles.” Read more about Chloe and the other 2008 Women in Business recipients. Support Women in Business Give to the Women in Business Scholarship Fund

2008 Amelia Earhart Fellowships

Since 1938 Zonta has awarded 1,227 Amelia Earhart Fellowships totalling US$7 million to women pursuing PhD degrees in aerospace science and engineering  - women following Amelia's dream for gender equality. Read about the 2008 Fellows. Read about the Amelia Earhart Fellowship Program.

2008 Young Women in Public Affairs Awards Since 1990, Zonta has presented 498 district and international Young Women in Public Affairs Awardsto young women from 49 countries. Read about the 2008 Recipients  Malin Karolina Varma (Sweden) always wanted to help others, but when she was afflicted with child rheumatism at the age of 11, it became more important then ever. “I could not walk for four weeks and nobody knew what was wrong with me,” said Malin. “Later when I got my diagnosis it was both a relief and a shock. I knew then that what I wanted to do was to help others in the same situation, especially children in countries without the same opportunity to healthcare as we do in Sweden.” Since then, Malin has been actively involved in helping other children, mothers and women to a better life. Read More. Support Young Women in Public Affairs Give to the YWPA Fund

Registration Guide Web Site Navigation Guide Contribute Online Read More Mailing July 2008 The Zontian Issue #1