Focusing on Zonta’s Mission
Zonta International seeks to improve the legal, political,
economic, health, educational and professional status of
women through service and advocacy.
At the international level
Zonta supports educational scholarships, violence
prevention programs and international service projects
with funding from the Zonta International Foundation.
At the local level
Clubs support Zonta’s mission through service and
advocacy projects that serve the needs of women in
their local communities.
International Service Projects 2008-2010
Safe Cities for Women in El
Salvador and Guatemala
(US$600,000) with UNIFEM
Reduction of Obstetric Fistula in
Liberia (US$450,000) with UNFPA
Prevention of Mother-to-Child
Transmission of HIV in Rwanda
(US$600,000) with UNICEF
ZISVAW Projects 2008-2010
All ZISVAW grants support the
UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women
administered by UNIFEM
Ending Violence Against Women through Community
Action in Cambodia (US$300,000)
Combating Violence Against Women and Supporting
the Implementation of Protective and
Anti-discriminatory Laws and Policies in Egypt
(US$200,000)
Community-based Center for Housing and
Rehabilitation of Women Victims of Violence in Syria
(US$100,000)
International Service Projects
International Service Projects seek to
improve the
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Economic
Educational
Health
Legal
Political
status of women in developing countries or
countries in transition.
International Service Projects
2008-2010
 Guatemala and
El Salvador
 Liberia
 Rwanda
Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission
of HIV in Rwanda
By the numbers:
190,000 Rwandans,
including 27,000 children,
are HIV positive…
90% of children with HIV contracted the virus from their
mothers during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding.
Almost all of these cases could have been prevented
if the mother had access to proper medical treatment.
Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of
HIV in Rwanda
UNICEF (US$600,000)
This project can virtually eliminate the passage of HIV
from mother to child by providing:
• HIV testing and counseling
• Health care
• Prenatal and obstetrical services
• Antiretroviral medications during
pregnancy
• Nutritional support
• Income-generating activities
Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission
of HIV in Rwanda
1. Action: advocacy and sensitization
campaigns among religious leaders and
local authorities
Result: more women are expected to deliver at the
health facility.
2. Action: increased male participation in
PMTCT + services Result: more women,
children and families will be reached and services
will be more effective.
3. Action: improve skills of existing anti-AIDS
clubs in 7 secondary schools
Result: improved quality of messages shared with
peers for appropriate behavior change.
Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission
of HIV in Rwanda
Project Update
With Zonta International’s support, UNICEF and its partners have been able to:
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Expand PMTCT+ services at 20 sites.
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Of the 20 PMTCT sites, 18 (90%) are providing early infant diagnosis
services; all 20 sites are providing on-site rapid HIV testing.

Develop capacity of health care workers to provide the most efficacious
PMTCT services.

Continue to promote HIV counseling and testing in the community,
mobilizing male partners to encourage their peers’ participation.

In 2009, among 399 exposed children expected at 18 months for HIV testing,
276 (69%) were tested; among those tested, 7.9% tested HIV positive.

Empower women living with HIV at seven PMTCT sites by providing 30
sewing machines and 120 pieces of cloth for start-up of income generating
activities.
Safe Cities for Women in Guatemala
and El Salvador
UNIFEM (US$600,000)
In El Salvador an estimated
1,000 women were murdered
between 1999 and 2005.
More than 3,200 Guatemalan
women have been kidnapped,
murdered, and in many cases,
raped, tortured and mutilated
in the last seven years.
Safe Cities for Women
UNIFEM will make these dangerous
cities safer for women by:
• Focusing on urban violence as
a gender issue,
• trengthening women’s rights to
active citizenship,
• educating the public about
violence against women, and
• helping women collaborate with the local government and
urban planners to create public policies that decrease the
risk of violence against women.
Safe Cities for Women in Guatemala
and El Salvador
Negotiations with local women’s organizations and
authorities are in process.
1. UNIFEM will develop and implement policies on
urban violence that specifically address the needs of
women and the prevalence of violence against women
in this environment.
2. The women’s organizations will identify risks and
potential solutions, advocate for more effective antiviolence policies and participate in urban planning
aimed at making the cities safer.
3. They will launch sensitization campaigns and stage
local interventions in order to educate the public and
to decrease violence against women.
Safe Cities for Women in Guatemala
and El Salvador
Project Update
In Guatemala City:
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Trained women to conduct a local diagnosis on urban security and violence
against women in public spaces and neighborhoods, resulting in a series of
proposals that were presented to municipal authorities to inform the
development of a guide to improve public spaces.
•
Conducted workshops to raise women’s awareness of their rights as
human beings and citizens, particularly their right to use public spaces
without fear of being victims of violence. Implemented a Women’s Forum
where women can discuss issues and make their voices heard in the
community.
•
Focused on the recovery of public spaces for women resulting in the
creation of “Bikes and Steps,” organized with the Women’s Office of the
Municipality of Guatemala City; every Sunday cars are prohibited in some
streets to allow citizens to have fun and enjoy the city.
Safe Cities for Women in Guatemala
and El Salvador
Project Update Continued
In San Salvador:
Conducted workshops in San Salvador that resulted in:
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The Salvadoran Women’s Organization for the Peace developing a Social
Watch, or Observatory, on violence against women to disseminate
strategies on VAW prevention and a series of indicators on violence
against women in public spaces which was posted on a website.
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A diagnosis of unsafe spaces, highlighting the perception of places where
women feel they may suffer violence and presented the results to local
authorities, the Minister of Justice and Public Security and the National Civil
Police.
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Developed advocacy strategies in collaboration with the National Civil
Police, the Municipal Major, Unit of Health, Salvadoran Children’s and Youth
Institute and schools, among others.
Reduction of Obstetric Fistula in Liberia
UNFPA (US$450,000)
What is obstetric fistula?
Obstetric fistula is a hole in the birth canal
caused by prolonged labor without prompt
medical intervention, leaving women with:
• chronic incontinence,
• a stillborn baby (in most cases), and
• the continuous smell of leaking urine or feces, or both.
Left untreated, fistula can lead to ulcerations, kidney disease
and nerve damage in the legs. Source: http://www.endfistula.org/fistula_brief.htm
Reduction of Obstetric Fistula in Liberia
UNFPA will contribute to the elimination of obstetric
fistula and the reduction of maternal and newborn
mortality by ensuring:
• Access to quality fistula treatment and
improved emergency obstetric care
• Supporting women socially and
economically to start a new life in their
communities.
Reduction of Obstetric Fistula in Liberia
LAUNCHED IN 2009
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Outreach activities have been initiated
36 Fistula cases were repaired
Dignity kits were provided for patients in Lofa
Fistula surgical repair kits were provided to Hospitals
Vocational and literacy skills training were conducted
Starter kids were procured and shared with 17 Fistula survivors
after skills training.
Reduction of Obstetric Fistula in
Liberia
Project Update
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Conducted ongoing media campaign, resulting in an increase in the
number of patients treated and an increase in community
receptiveness to women living with fistula.
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197 women received treatment in 2009 with more than 520 women
treated since the start of the program.
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In 2009, 12 doctors and 30 nurses/midwives received training in fistula
prevention and treatment, strengthening the capacity to address
obstetric fistula.
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In 2009, 44 fistula survivors who received rehabilitation services were
reintegrated into their communities.
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With Zonta’s support, the Fistula Project provided treatment to 197
patients, with an 81% rate of complete closure and dryness.
Zonta International Strategies to End
Violence Against Women (ZISVAW)
ZISVAW projects seek to
reduce the incidence of
violence against women and
girls by changing the
personal and/or political
knowledge, attitudes and
behaviors contributing to
violence against women.
ZISVAW Projects 2008-2010
In partnership with UNIFEM,
administrator of the UN Trust
Fund to End Violence against
Women, Zonta will support
projects in:
• Cambodia
• Egypt
• Syria
ZISVAW Projects 2008-2010
• Ending violence against Women through
Community Action in Cambodia
• Combating physical violence against
women and supporting the implementation
of protective and anti-discriminatory laws
and policies in Egypt
• Community-based center for housing and
rehabilitation of women victims of violence
in Syria
Ending Violence Against Women through
Community Action in Cambodia (US$300,000)
This project works with women’s and men’s
community groups to:
• change harmful attitudes and behaviors
through education and counseling,
• advocate for the enforcement of laws
that protect women,
• teach women their legal rights and assist them in accessing
the legal system and social services,
• provide counseling to perpetrators and potential perpetrators
to change them into non-violent male role models.
Ending Violence Against Women through
Community Action in Cambodia
Project Update
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Conducted survey of perceptions of violence against women in 33
households, confirming that legal awareness of among men and women
is very low.
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Shared survey data with public officials, police officers and local
residents which led to public officials and police taking more prompt and
appropriate action to address violence against women.
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Established community-based women’s core groups who reached out to
more than 3,000 women in the target areas, resulting in 27 cases of
violence against women being brought to the attention of local
authorities.
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Community-based men’s core groups organized a white ribbon campaign
focused on the enforcement of existing laws that address violence
against women
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Organized workshop on Domestic Violence Law for local authorities,
leading to collaboration between men’s and women’s core groups and
local authorities in identifying cases of violence against women
Combating Physical Violence Against Women and
Supporting the Implementation of Protective and
Anti-discriminatory Laws and Policies in Egypt
(US$200,000)
• Supports the implementation of
laws prohibiting the performance of
genital mutilation,
• provides legal, medical and
psychological aid to women, and
• helps shelters better respond to
needs and rights of women
survivors of violence.
Combating Physical Violence Against Women and
Supporting the Implementation of Protective and
Anti-discriminatory Laws and Policies in Egypt
Project Update
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Developed capacity of One-Stop Centre to
provide quality services to women survivors of
violence, using a human rights approach. Five
workshops were held to train staff on active
listening skills, communication and
networking skills, international conventions
and human rights of women, violence against
women and research methodology.
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Organized two workshops for women to help
them become more aware of their human
rights, more critical about cultural
justifications of violence against women, and
more knowledgeable about the means to
access the justice system.
Community-based Center for Housing and
Rehabilitation of Women Victims of Violence in Syria
(US$100,000)
A “one-stop centre” providing:
• legal advice for women,
• access to education, and
vocational training,
• family counseling, and
• counseling for perpetrators
of violence against women.
Community-based Center for Housing and
Rehabilitation of Women Victims of Violence in Syria
Project Update
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The Centre provides counseling, housing and
vocational training services to approximately
1,000 survivors of violence each year.
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The project focused on strengthening the
capacity of the Centre and its staff and
volunteers to provide quality services to
survivors.
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Established a telephone hotline at the Centre
to reach women throughout Syria and to
ensure privacy and confidentiality to avoid
stigma attached to survivors.
What can you do in your community?
Identify and respond to local opportunities to prevent
violence against women and advance women’s
education, health care, legal rights
and economic security.
For example:
• Work with local authorities to reform public
policies to make neighbourhoods and
campuses safer for women.
• Increase women’s and girls’ access to local
preventative health care programs (e.g.,
mammograms, vaccinations and Pap smears).
What can you do in your community?
• Support local HIV/AIDS testing, counseling
and treatment programs for pregnant
women.
• Collaborate with local media, healthcare
professionals and police officials to prevent
and respond to violence against women.
• Participate in the global 16 Days of Activism
Against Gender Violence Campaign
(25 November - 10 December).
What can you do in your community?
• Advocate for the implementation of local
and national policies, laws and action
plans on ending violence against women.
• Mentor girls interested in fields in which
women are under-represented.
• Encourage women to apply for an AE
Fellowship, JMK Scholarship or YWPA
Award.
Zonta International Commitments
Our success depends on contributions to Annual Funds to support the
charitable and educational programs of Zonta International.
• International Service Fund supports projects that seek to
improve the economic, educational, health or legal status of women.
• ZISVAW Fund supports projects that seek to reduce the incidence
of violence against women and girls.
• Amelia Earhart Fund supports graduate (PhD) fellowships for
women studying aerospace-related sciences and engineering.
• Jane M. Klausman Fund supports scholarships for young
women pursuing careers in business management.
• Young Women in Public Affairs Fund supports awards to
encourage young women to participate in public and political life.
Zonta International Commitments
Fundraising Commitments 2008-2010
• Every Zonta Club contributes at least onethird of all service funds collected to the
Zonta International Foundation. Where this
is not applicable, other ways should be
found to contribute “your portion.”
• Every Zontian makes an individual annual
gift to the Foundation.
• Every Zontian investigates and considers a
planned gift to our Foundation.