Written by Kathleen Pokrud
A Pandemic within a Pandemic
Indicators of a range of data sources in many countries have shown that incidences of aggravated gender-based and domestic abuse have surged during the Covid-19 pandemic worldwide. Stay at homes order, schools closed, workers laid-off or told to work from home. When people are confined to homes with limited personal movement, in addition to the decline in household income due to the pandemic, and often abuse of alcohol consumption have heightened the problem.
One of the women’s international organisations that have tirelessly worked on the issues of gender equality, gender-based and domestic violence, early marriage and teenage pregnancy is Zonta International. The organization stands for women’s rights, advocate for gender equality, education for girls, an end to child marriage and teenage pregnancy and gender-based violence. Expat Life magazine sat down with Zontian Chavali Pamela Osathanugrah, the Zonta International District 17 Governor in 2020-2022 Biennium. Zontian Pamela oversees 6 Areas namely the Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia and Thailand with 2,600 members and 87 Clubs. Aside being the fastest growing District in the world, District 17 is also the largest District in the world in terms of the number of members and clubs.
Zonta Representation
Gender equality is a basic human right and its achievement has immense socioeconomic implications. Yet, gender inequalities are deeply rooted in every society. Sustainable Development Goal No. 5 is to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. While progress has been made, since the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, no country in the world has achieved gender equality.
Zonta International is a non-governmental organization with General Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and participatory status to the Council of Europe. Zonta is also a member of coalitions like the Coalition to End Violence Against Women and Girls Globally, the ERA Coalition and others. Through these relationships and partnerships, Zonta is able to issue its own statements and collaborate with other like-minded organizations to make joint statements and advocate for policies to promote and protect the rights of women and girls.
History of Zonta
Zonta International’s story is woven from a rich fabric of empowerment and progressive change. In 1919, the Confederation of Zonta Clubs was formed. Mary E. Jenkins, a newspaper publisher and civic leader, was elected the first President of the Confederation of Zonta Clubs. The name Zonta is derived from the Native American Sioux dialect and signifies ‘honest and trustworthy’. ‘Zonta International’ became known in 1931 with the charter of the first club in Europe, the Zonta Club of Vienna, Austria, followed by the Zonta Club of Hamburg, Germany. From 1930 through the 1950’s Zonta International continued to grow in Europe and to Latin America and to Asia. The first club in Asia, founded in 1952 is the Zonta Club of Manila, Philippines, now known as Zonta Club of Manila l. It was February 1969 that the first club in Thailand was chartered and the first President was Thanpuying Poonsapaya Navawongs (Noppawong) na Ayudhya, then the first woman Dean and founder of Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Education. Zonta District Governor Pamela disclosed, “Today, Zonta International is a global organization of more than 27,000 women and men in 1,129 Zonta clubs in 31 Districts and one Region South America in 63 countries. In 2019, we celebrated our 100th anniversary and the milestones that made us the organization we are today.” On 8 November 2019, Zonta International marked a century of commitment to empowering women worldwide through service and advocacy.
Mission and Vision
On the mission of Zonta, Mrs Pamela explained, “Zonta International is a leading global organization of professionals empowering women worldwide through service and advocacy.” I asked her about what is the vision in the Zontians’ world, “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 an equal basis with men. In such a world, no woman lives in fear of violence.”
Zonta International Programmes
Our International Programmes through the United Nations agencies are funded through the Zonta International Foundation, now known as Zonta Foundation for Women. Mrs. Pamela reiterated, “Education is vital to girls and young women, and we encourage it immensely.” There are Education Programmes to young women funded by the Zonta Foundation for Women.
Amelia Earhart Fellowship in honor of famed pilot and Zontian Amelia Earhart since 1938 awarded to women pursuing Ph.D. /doctoral degrees in aerospace engineering and sciences;
2. Young Women in Public Affairs Award established in 1990;
3. Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship established in 1998;
4. Women in Technology Scholarship is now in its pilot stage, which began in the last Biennium in 2018-2020.
Our services to the community
Zonta International is passionate about providing life-changing opportunities for women and girls through international service projects. The following lists International Service Projects in the 2020-2022 Biennium:
- Global Programme to End Child Marriage
- Adolescent Girls’ Health and Protection in Peru
- Strengthening Capacities of National Health Sector to Deliver Survivor-Centered Response to Gender-Based Violence in Papua New Guinea and Timor Leste
- Let Us Learn Madagascar
District Governor Pamela expressed, “By partnering with United Nations agencies such as Unicef USA, UNFPA and UN Women, and other recognized non-governmental organizations, Zonta has improved women’s health, provided better economic opportunities and prevented gender-based violence in over 60 countries. Since our first service project, Zonta has contributed more than US$32.7 million to our international service projects.”
Mrs. Pamela further elaborated, “The Zonta International 2020-2022 Biennium Theme is ‘Transitions, Changes and New Opportunities’. The Zonta International District 17 Biennium Tagline is ‘The Link to the Future is NOW. Let us “Embrace the New Normal with Optimism for Women” through the 3 R’s: Recovery, Rebuild and Rehabilitate, through strong Teamwork.
In April 2022 the Zonta District 17 Leaders’ Institute (two years in the making) was finally launched, incorporating Training sessions for potential club leaders and new members to ensure a smooth transition from one biennium to the next.
In May 2022 District 17, together with two other Districts, has been awarded the ‘Zonta Service Recognition Award 2022’.
In May 2022 the first District 17 Treasurer’s and Club Treasurer’s Manual has been prepared by the Biennium 2020-2022 Finance Committee, and ready to be launched.
Covid-19 pandemic
On 20 February 2021, The World Day of Social Justice is a time to recognize the need to promote social justice, which includes efforts to tackle issues such as gender equity, exclusion, human rights and social protections. The theme for 2021 of Zonta was “A Call for Social Justice in the Digital Economy.” This year 2022, Zonta International is prioritising “Achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programs. In addition, emphasis is on women’s economic empowerment in the changing world of work.”
Since early 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic has caused many to work remotely, allowing for the continuation of business activities. While this crisis has reinforced the growth and impact of the digital economy, the United Nations says it has also “laid bare and exacerbated the growing digital divide within, between and across developed and developing countries, particularly in terms of the availability, affordability and use of information and communications technology and access to the Internet, deepening existing inequalities.”
Mrs. Pamela quoted the views from Zonta International President Sharon Langenbeck, Ph.D., a two-time Awardee of the Zonta International Amelia Earhart Fellowship, “The gender gap in the technological divide is another shortcoming the pandemic has revealed. To come back even stronger after Covid-19, governments and stakeholders must come together to find solutions to achieve sustainable development, the promotion of full employment and gender equity. Women and girls cannot be left even further behind.”
The first electronic 21st Zonta International District 17 Conference was held from Bangkok, Thailand presided by District Governor Pamela on 17-21 September 2021. Over 900 Zontians registered to this first-ever electronic District 17 Conference— the largest number of registrants to any Conference. Due to its electronic /virtual nature. Pre-Conference activities, trainings, sessions and voting for Amendment to Bylaws began on 31 July 2021 electronically and took place over a period of several weeks until its culmination on 3-6 September 2021 with the electronic elections of the 2022-2024 District officers. On a rotation basis, and elected at the 21st District Conference, the District 17 Governor-elect Ofelia Bautista is from the Philippines and the Zonta Club of Greater Rizal l Area 1.
Zonta International is hosting its 65th Convention in the captivating Hamburg, Germany from 25-28 June 2022. This will be a special convention, as it is the first one of its second century of empowering women through service and advocacy. All Zontians and guests around the globe are welcomed to participate, where voting on amendments to the Zonta International Bylaws, and elections of the Biennium 2022-2024 Zonta International Board and Nominating Committee members will take place. It is an opportunity for Zontians to rekindle old friendships and meet new friends.
How public can get involved
Zonta offers unique membership opportunities through invitation and application. Mrs. Pamela encouraged, “Join our community of members and partners worldwide and improve the lives of women and girls in your local community and around the world.”
For more information on Zonta International, our causes and programs, please checkout our website at https://www.zonta.org/
