EDUCATE ORGANIZE ADVOCATE ZONTA DISTRICT 7 SEMINAR 2014

EDUCATE, ORGANIZE, ADVOCATE ZONTA DISTRICT 7 - SEMINAR 2014 Sherrill Mulhern International Advocacy Committee 2014 -2016

ZI Advocacy Goals 2014 -16

The 20 th 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. UN Women has already begun the commemoration of Beijing and will have themed activities based on the Platform for Action each month Visit http: //beijing 20. unwomen. org/ often for updates.

Geneva NGO Forum – Beijing+20 3 -5 November 2014, Geneva, Switzerland For more information: http: //www. ngocsw-geneva. ch/ NGO Forum Beijing+20 @Beijing 20 Forum The NGO Forum #beijing 20 will bring NGOs voice to the UNECE Regional review of the 1995 BPf. A, identify emerging women rights issues & seek gov't accountability http: //beijing 20. ngocsw-geneva. ch

59 th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women 9 -20 March 2015 New York, NY, USA Zontians are encouraged to participate in CSW 59 at their own expense. The ZI website will contain updates as CSW 59 approaches. For more information, contact Megan Radavich: mradavich@zonta. org

Zonta International Advocacy Initiatives For more information: www. cedaw 2014. 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 likeminded actors. WEPs are in line with our Zonta Objects (Bylaws Article II (a)) and CEDAW Article 11. 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 annual meeting.

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/Networks. Around. The. World/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 & Awards Zonta 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/Member. Resources/Tools/Advocacy. Tools. aspx -- newsletters, proceedures, articles, CEDAW, etc. http: //www. zonta. org/What. We. Do/Local. Serviceand. Advocacy. 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. zontadistrict 32. org –These are excellent sources for other advocacy links & ideas for implementation. For further assistance, e-mail advocacy@zonta. org

2012 -2014 Snapshots of District 7 Advocacy

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

Zonta District 7 Social Media Twitter : Zonta 4 Women Facebook Pages: Zonta District 7 Zonta Connect Zonta 19

Use Zonta Says No theme as the banner on your Facebook Page ZONTA DISTRICT 7

Zonta International District 7 are encouraged to join the campaign to wear orange on the 25 th of each month to help raise awareness and initiate local community dialogue about Violence Against Women! Orange Day District 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. http: //saynotoviolence. org/join-say-no/zonta-district-7 -end-violence-againstwomen-orange-day

ADVOCACY ALERT 25 September, #Orange. Day, is just around the corner! This month’s theme for action is all about engaging artists to end violence against women and girls. • 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/Say. NO. UNi. TE and twitter. com/Say. NO_UNi. TE using the hashtag #Orange. Day. • 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!

v Organize Advocacy initiatives to celebrate and/or participate in one or more of the events listed on the ZI Advocacy Calendar. v Ensure that the Club/District is in agreement with the chosen initiative. v 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 2014 8 -March International Women's Day 8 -September International Literacy Day 21 -September International Day of Peace 14 -October International Day of Rural Women 17 October International Day for Eradication of Poverty 24 -October United Nations Day 25 -November International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women 25 November-10 December 16 Days of Activism 1 -December World AIDS Day 2 -December International Day for the Abolition of Slavery/Suppression of the Traffic in Persons 10 -December Intenational 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? 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

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL ADVOCACY LINKS "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 28

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.

Gov. Track. us Email Update S. 84: Paycheck Fairness Act Introduced: Jan 23, 2013 Sponsor: Sen. Barbara Mikulski [D-MD] Status: Referred to Committee Track this bill From: Gov. Track <noreply@Gov. Track. us> To: <zonta_advocacy@yahoo. com> Date: Sep 12, 2014 5: 06 a. m. Subject: — Legislation Coming Up S. 2199: Paycheck Fairness Act This bill has been added to the Senate’s floor schedule for the next legislative day. 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 3/5 ths vote. In practice, most bills must pass cloture to move forward in the Senate.

EARNINGS : 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.

How are women doing in District 7?

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,

Gov. Track. us Email Update This is your email update from Gov. Track. us. S. J. Res. 15: A joint resolution removing the deadline for the ratification of the equal rights amendment. From: Gov. Track <noreply@Gov. Track. us> Date: Sep 16, 2014 To: zonta_advocacy@yahoo. com Subject: New Cosponsor H. J. Res. 113: Removing the deadline for the ratification of the equal rights amendment. New Cosponsor: Rep. Hakeem Jeffries [D-NY 8] 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:

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. Senate: Senate Joint Resolution 10 (S. J. Res. 10) Lead sponsor: Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ); 14 co-sponsors Introduced 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-sponsors Introduced August 1, 2013; referred to House 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. 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.

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 Republican co-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, 92 d 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-sponsors Referred 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, 92 d 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 RALLY Mobilizing 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

Promote and publicize 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/Media. News/Share. Your. Story. a spx. 45

ZI Advocacy Committee North American Representatives are here to Please do not hesitate to ask questions. help We will do our best to help you. Contact the ZI Advocacy Committee at: advocacy@zonta. org ZI Committee Chairman Margit Webjörn Sherrill Mulhern Bobbie Cardillo zontaconnect@live. com bobbeelcardillo@gmail. com 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.