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ZONTA DISTRICT 7 - SEMINAR 2014
Sherrill MulhernInternational Advocacy Committee 2014-2016
EDUCATE, ORGANIZE, ADVOCATE
ZI Advocacy Goals 2014-16
The 20th anniversary of Beijing is an opportunity to re-examine the Platform for Action and determine the gaps and progress made on each of the critical areas of concern.
Visit http://beijing20.unwomen.org/ often for updates.
UN Women has already begun the commemoration of Beijing and will have themed activities based on the Platform for Action each month
Geneva NGO Forum – Beijing+203-5 November 2014, Geneva, Switzerland
For more information: http://www.ngocsw-geneva.ch/
The ZI website will contain updates as CSW59 approaches. For more information, contact Megan Radavich: [email protected]
.
59th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women 9-20 March 2015 New York, NY, USA
Zontians are encouraged to participate in CSW59 at their own expense.
Zonta International Advocacy Initiatives
For more information: www.cedaw2014.org
Add an Advocacy Link or Drop Down Box on your webpage
http://weprinciples.org/Site/
UN Global Compact and Un Women and Zonta International are like-minded actors.
WEPs are in line with our Zonta Objects (Bylaws Article II (a)) and CEDAW Article11.
WEPs will be used to involve the private sector in efforts to empower women.
WEPs will be offered among Advocacy Tools as a platform for districts/clubs to address companies in their countries/communities.
Zontians will be encouraged to work towards having WEPs accepted in the companies in which they work.
District/club actions will be evaluated, starting with number of CEO Statements of Support signatures.
At the international level, Zonta will contribute with ideas at the annualmeeting.
The WEPs are a platform to work with the private sector to advance women’s economic empowerment and rights and to improve the situation of marginalized women, both urban and rural, within the context of sustainable development.
Advocating for gender equality and sustainable development can bring together a compelling coalition of stakeholders. Bringing these actors together is one of the key functions that Zontians play.
Zontians can collaborate locally to publicize the WEPs and gather stakeholders together.
Zontians can find common cause with others working with the WEPs as a platform for action and change.
Zontians can work with:
UN Global Compact Local Networks:
www.unglobalcompact.org/NetworksAroundTheWorld/index.html
UN Women National Committees and regional offices: www.unwomen.org/en/where-we-are
to raise national awareness about the WEPs and support local businesses in their efforts to implement the Principles.
Ideas for WEPs engagement:• Collaborate with other organizations on an event to raise awareness about the WEPs.
• Form an ongoing WEPs-oriented multi-stakeholder group.
• Publicize the WEPs on your website and engage chapters and organizational leaders.
• Host, collaborate or participate on webinars on topics related to the WEPs.
• Collect examples of what businesses are doing to empower women and advance the goals of the WEPs.
• Foster peer review or discussion of what companies are doing on company efforts to implement the WEPs
• Launch a CEO Statement of Support signature drive.
• Develop or adapt tools or resources related to the WEPs.
• Launch local initiatives related to the WEPs.
Zonta Advocacy is Integrated with Zonta International, District and Local Club Service, Scholarships &
AwardsZonta clubs & districts around the world are charged with supporting Zonta International’s Advocacy Initiatives as well as its Service & Award programs.
In addition they are charged with implementing their own advocacy initiatives, service projects, awards & scholarships.
Zonta Advocacy Initiatives at the club and district level apply global human rights principles & Zonta International's Biennium Strategic Plan and Advocacy Goals.
What about your club?
What’s going on in your community?
What do you care about?
Have you found your voice or are you relying on others?
Where do you fit in to solve problems & make a difference?
FIVE STEPS TO LAUNCH ADVOCACY IN YOUR CLUB
1.Club President: Establish an advocacy committee by appointing a club committee chairman & members. It is helpful to select Zontians who understand policy formation, civic involvement, community action, and, if possible, legislative or public decision-making processes.
2.Club President: Consult with your Area Director & District Governor for guidance & ideas and to get your District Advocacy Chairman’s contact information. Share this with your Club Chairman.
3.Club Advocacy Committee Chair: Contact your District Advocacy Chairman regarding advocacy in your District & Area.
4.Within the context of Zonta’s Strategic Plan and Biennium Advocacy Goals, set your committee’s goals and recommend advocacy goals & activities to your club. In doing so, you will want to (a) determine what issues you can & should address in your own community, and (b) see how you can complement and sometimes blend with your club’s other goals & activities.
5.Club President & Club Advocacy Committee: Every Club should take action on at least 1 advocacy event &/or issue each year, make such action visible in local media, & report on the results to its Governor & District Advocacy Chairman.
ZONTA ADVOCACY RESOURCES-ONLINE
http://www.zonta.org/MemberResources/Tools/AdvocacyTools.aspx -- newsletters, proceedures, articles, CEDAW, etc.
http://www.zonta.org/WhatWeDo/LocalServiceandAdvocacy.aspx (Both are continually updated with Zonta tools & information you can use)
http://zontasaysno.com/ -- discover easy-to-apply advice on how to set up a project; see what other clubs are doing and post your ZSN story
http://www.unwomen.org/ -- a wealth of information can be found with UN Women’s six Focus Areas --Violence Against Women, Millennium Development Goals, Economic Empowerment, Leadership & Participation, Peace & Security (e.g., Res. 1325), National Planning & Budgeting
DISTRICT WEBSITES
All district website addresses are the same, except for the District number — i.e., www.zontadistrict32.org –These are excellent sources for other advocacy links & ideas for implementation.
For further assistance, e-mail [email protected]
Snapshots of District 7 Advocacy
2012-2014
Looking for ideas to set up your 2014-2016 Zonta Says NO project? Use the arts, sporting events, and other means to Say NO, while also offering that to which we want to Say YES. http://zontasaysno.com
Research information regarding VAW in your city & communicate with the governing body regarding suggestions to make your area safer. http://www.cedawforcities.org
Partner with another organization to raise awareness and funds for the local shelter or hotline for women
Help mentor & teach non-violent means to solve conflict, then broaden the impact by enabling a module to be available in schools & other locations
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Zonta District 7 Social Media
Twitter : Zonta4Women
Facebook Pages:Zonta District 7
Zonta Connect
Connect Zonta
ZONTA DISTRICT 7
Use Zonta Says No theme as the banner on your Facebook Page
Zonta International District 7 are encouraged to join the campaign to wear orange on the 25th of each month to help raise awareness and initiate local community dialogue about Violence Against Women!
http://saynotoviolence.org/join-say-no/zonta-district-7-end-violence-against-women-orange-day
Orange DayDistrict 7 clubs are encouraged to upload photos and descriptions of their Orange Day activities on their Facebook and other social media platforms. They are also invited to forward them to our District Advocacy Chairmen and to our district webmaster for display on the District 7 website.
•WHAT CAN YOU DO? On 25 September call on artists to join efforts to end violence against women through their chosen form of art!
•Host a film screening, art exhibition or musical concert to draw attention to the issue. Engage participants in a discussion around key issues of violence against women and girls in your community and how artists can be a powerful force for social change. Share your poetry, photographs, paintings and songs on the topic at facebook.com/SayNO.UNiTE and twitter.com/SayNO_UNiTE using the hashtag #OrangeDay.
•And of course, don’t forget to wear something orange on 25 September and let the world know that YOU say NO to violence against women and girls!
ADVOCACY ALERT25 September, #OrangeDay, is just around the corner! This month’s theme for action is all about engaging artists to end violence against women and girls.
Organize Advocacy initiatives to celebrate and/or participate in one or more of the events listed on the ZI Advocacy Calendar.
Ensure that the Club/District is in agreement with the chosen initiative.
If there is no majority agreement on an initiative, Zontians may still pursue it as an INDIVIDUAL initiative (i.e. NOT in Zonta’s name).
ADVOCACY DAYS 20148-March
International Women's Day8-September
International Literacy Day21-September
International Day of Peace14-October
International Day of Rural Women17 October
International Day for Eradication of Poverty
24-OctoberUnited Nations Day
25-NovemberInternational Day for the
Eliminationof Violence Against Women
25 November-10 December16 Days of Activism
1-DecemberWorld AIDS Day
2-DecemberInternational Day for the Abolition
of Slavery/Suppression of the Traffic in Persons
10-DecemberIntenational Human Rights Day
Advocacy Within Zonta- Should involve your whole club or district- Should focus on issues that are in line with the Zonta
International’s Strategic Plan and Advocacy Goals- Must focus on women’s and girls’ issues- May include education, outreach and lobbying
All Zonta Clubs in the United States are registered as tax-exempt 501(c)4 social welfare organizations which means that they must operate primarily to further the common good and general welfare of the people of the community (such as by bringing about civic betterment and social improvements).
As 501(c)(4) organizations, Zonta Clubs can engage in UNLIMITED lobbying so long as it pertains to Zonta's stated mission: improving the legal, political, economic, educational, health and professional status of women and promoting justice and universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Local Advocacy Initiatives may include, but are not limited to
-direct and financial support for the development, and distribution of educational programs to raise public awareness-public events and demonstrations, petitions, letters to the editor, letters and telephone calls to members of a city council, state and national public officials. etc.
100 % of all local Advocacy and Service projects must focus on women’s and girls’ issues.Cooperative projects may only be undertaken with like-minded organizations.
Advocate for what?Advocate for what?District 7 Advocacy Platform
Whereas, Zonta International District 7 seeks to advance the status of women through timely communications of clearly-stated positions, and
Whereas, there is agreement that the following issues are of common concern to all members of the District:
• Achieving pay equity
S. 84: Paycheck Fairness Act
• Ensuring equal rights under the law
Ratification : ERA, CEDAW
• Women in Scientific, Social & Political Leadership
S. 288: Women and Minorities in STEM Booster Act of 2013
• Supporting measures to oppose gender-based violence, such as trafficking, rape, &
domestic violence,
H.R. 6087: International Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act of
2012
Zonta Advocacy includes direct efforts to influence laws
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"CEDAW 2014" : www.womenstreaty.org
"UNWOMEN National Committee United States" : www.unwomen-usnc.org
"Say No to Violence Against Women" : www.saynotoviolence.org
"National Committee on Pay Check Equality" : www.pay-equity.org
"Equal Rights Amendment “ : www.equalrightsamendment.org
"National Human Trafficking Resource Center" : www.traffickingresourcecenter.org
"Women in Stem" : www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ostp/women
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL ADVOCACY LINKS
WHAT CAN WE DO ?
Track Legislation
Write Letters: Writing a letter to your representative and senators is the most effective action you can take as an individual. Start by finding your district. Then go to your representative and senators’ websites and fill out their contact forms.
Start your letter like this: I support Bill # and Name because . . .
Spread the Word: Share the bill with your fellow Zontians and network of friends — especially friends in other congressional districts — to get the word out.
S. 84: Paycheck Fairness ActIntroduced: Jan 23, 2013Sponsor:
Sen. Barbara Mikulski [D-MD]Status: Referred to Committee
Track this bill
GovTrack.us Email Update
From: GovTrack <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]>
Last Action: This bill is provisionally dead due to a failed vote for cloture on April 9, 2014. Cloture is required to move past a Senate filibuster or the threat of a filibuster and takes a 3/5ths vote. In practice, most bills must pass cloture to move forward in the Senate.
Date: Sep 12, 2014 5:06 a.m. Subject: — Legislation Coming UpS. 2199: Paycheck Fairness Act
This bill has been added to the Senate’s floor schedule for the next legislative day.
The changes in the real median earnings of men and women who worked full time, year- round between 2011 and 2012 were not statistically significant. In 2012, the median earnings of women who worked full time, year-round ($37,791) was 77 percent of that for men working full time, year-round ($49,398) ─ not statistically different from the 2011 ratio.
The female-to-male earnings ratio has not experienced a statistically significant annual increase since 2007.
EARNINGS :
How are women doing in District 7?
Advocacy Alert
Dear Zonta District Advocacy Chairmen,
As many of you know, on September 10th, for the first time ever, the United States Senate voted 73 to 25 to allow debate on the equal pay legislation.
This piece of legislation is critical for women's economic equality in the United States where women, on average, still earn only 77 cents for every dollar earned by men.
Enough is enough. Women cannot - and should not - have to wait any longer for equal pay.
Please urge the Zontians in your respective districts to take an interest in this important legislation and encourage them to take action and to email their Senators about the Paycheck Fairness Act.
For Zonta Clubs that have already voted to support the Paycheck Fairness Act, a model “Letter to your Senator” is attached for your convenience.
Together, we can take this important step toward closing the wage gap.
Very best,
Sherrill Mulhern
Support the Paycheck Fairness Act, S. 2199 Vote in Favor of Cloture, Against any Amendments, and for Final Passage
Dear Senator _______________:
On behalf of The Zonta Club of __________________, member of Zonta International - an international organization of more than 30,000 members dedicated to advancing the status of women through service and advocacy - we urge you to support the Paycheck Fairness Act (S. 2199), by voting in favor of cloture, against any weakening amendments, and for final passage. The Paycheck Fairness Act would update and strengthen the Equal Pay Act of 1963 (EPA), which made it illegal for employers to pay unequal wages to men and women who perform substantially the same work. It closes loopholes in the EPA that have diluted its effectiveness in combating unfair and unequal pay. While the EPA has helped to narrow the wage gap between men and women in our workforce, significant disparities remain and need to be addressed.
The Paycheck Fairness Act would:
Ensure that women can obtain the same remedies for sex-based pay discrimination as those available to victims of race-based and national origin discrimination;
Eliminate unfair defenses to pay discrimination currently available to employers;
Prohibit employer retaliation against employees who disclose or discuss their salaries;
Improve wage data collection; and
Make clear that individuals may compare themselves to similarly situated employees to determine whether wage discrimination exists, even if those employees do not work in the same physical location.
The Zonta Club of _______________believes that in today’s economic climate, women’s wages are critical components of working families’ struggle to make ends meet. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, women who work full-time still earn, on average, only 77 cents for every dollar men earn. African-American women were paid only 64 cents, and Latinas only 54 cents, for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men.
We urge you to support economic security for working families by voting in favor of cloture, against any weakening amendments, and for final passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act.
Sincerely,
GovTrack.us Email UpdateThis is your email update from GovTrack.us.
S.J.Res. 15: A joint resolution removing the deadline for the ratification of the equal rights amendment.
From: GovTrack <[email protected]> Date: Sep 16, 2014 To: [email protected]: New Cosponsor
H.J.Res. 113: Removing the deadline for the ratification of the equal rights amendment.New Cosponsor: Rep. Hakeem Jeffries [D-NY8]
You are seeing this event because you subscribe to H.J.Res. 113: Removing the deadline for the ratification of the equal rights ....
The ERA has been introduced into every Congress since 1982.
Beginning in 1994 with introduction of the first three-state strategy bill in Congress, ERA advocates have been pursuing two different routes to ratification:
Senate: Senate Joint Resolution 10 (S.J. Res. 10)Lead sponsor: Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ); 14 co-sponsorsIntroduced March 5, 2013; read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary Text: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to equal rights for men and women. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled (two-thirds of each House concurring therein), That the following article is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States:‘Section 1. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.'Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.'Section 3. This article shall take effect 2 years after the date of ratification.'
House of Representatives: House Joint Resolution 56 (H.J. Res. 56)Lead sponsor: Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY); 94 co-sponsorsIntroduced August 1, 2013; referred to House Committee on the JudiciaryText:Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to equal rights for men and women. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled (two-thirds of each House concurring therein), That the following article is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States:‘Section 1. Women shall have equal rights in the United States and every place subject to its jurisdiction. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.'Section 2. Congress and the several States shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.'Section 3. This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification.'Note: The wording of H.J. Res. 56 differs slightly from S.J. Res. 10 and the Equal Rights Amendment passed by Congress in 1972.
TRADITIONAL LEGISLATION• outlined in Article V of the Constitution, requiring passage by a two-thirds majority in the Senate and the House of Representatives, followed by ratification by legislatures in three-quarters (38) of the 50 states.
Three-state strategy" Legislation•ratification in three more of the 15 state legislatures that did not ratify the ERA during the 1972-82 ratification campaign, based on legal analysis that when three more states vote yes, this non-traditional process could withstand legal challenge and put the ERA into the Constitution.
Senate: Senate Joint Resolution 15 (S.J. Res. 15)Lead sponsor: Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-MD); 29 co-sponsors, including lead Republicanco-sponsor Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL)Introduced May 9, 2013; read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.Text: Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That notwithstanding any time limit contained in House Joint Resolution 208, 92d Congress, as agreed to in the Senate on March 22, 1972, the article of amendment proposed to the States in that joint resolution shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution whenever ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States.
House of Representatives: House Joint Resolution 43 (H.J. Res. 43) Lead sponsor: Rep. Robert Andrews (D-NJ); 84 co-sponsorsReferred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.Text: Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That notwithstanding any time limit contained in House Joint Resolution 208, 92d Congress, as agreed to in the Senate on March 22, 1972, the article of amendment proposed to the States in that joint resolution shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution whenever ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States.
CONSTITUTION DAY RALLYMobilizing grassroots across the country to fight for Voter Rights & Equal Rights Amendment Ratification.Friday, September 12 & Saturday, September 13 at the Capitol.
Plan an Advocacy Campaign
• Know your issue
• Establish your objectives
• Examine interests of all stakeholders
• Develop a strategy• Have the initiative approved by your
District Governor and Advocacy Chairman
• Identify & mobilize required resources
• Use advocacy tools/guidance on
Zonta.org website
• Follow ZI Bylaws, Advocacy & Affiliation
policies
• Implement strategy; monitor progress
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
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Create and distribute a press release
Use social media – Facebook, Twitter, etc. to promote your initiative
Take pictures and create a short write-up of your event.
Send pictures and a write-up to local media, post them on your Facebook and social media outlets, email them to your District Advocacy Chairman, upload them to :
http://www.zonta.org/MediaNews/ShareYourStory.aspx.
Promote and publicize
ZI Advocacy Committee North American
Representatives are here to help
Please do not hesitate to ask questions. We will do our best to help you.Contact the ZI Advocacy Committee at: [email protected]
ZI Committee Chairman
Margit Webjörn
Sherrill Mulhern Bobbie Cardillo [email protected] [email protected]
You can also visit the Advocacy Tools webpage on the Zonta International website to learn more about the ZI Advocacy Committee, resources, policies, & external publications.
