Zonta International Commitment to Ending Child Marriage
Commitment description:Just days ago, Zonta International celebrated its centennial anniversary. As we reflect on our achievements over the last 100 years, we also look to the future and one of the most pressing challenges facing young women today – child, early and forced marriage. With the combined resources and collaborative support of our 28,500 members in 63 countries across the globe, we commit to ending child, early and forced marriage and ensuring the full potential of untold generations of young women. To that end, we have already committed 2 million US Dollars to the UNFPA-UNICEF Global Programme to End Child Marriage, the highest sum Zonta International has ever committed to a single project over a two-year period. Our commitment to ending child, early and forced marriage, however, goes beyond funding. In the seven Global Programme countries where Zonta International has active members, we are connecting our members into the Global Programme so they may lend their support and influence in meaningful and impactful ways. We also aim to have an additional 250 Zonta clubs deliver a local or regional action to oppose child marriage by July 2020 and are well on our way to achieving that goal. At the international level, we have made, and will continue to make, ending child marriage the focus of our advocacy efforts through our global Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign and through Zonta’s participation at the Commission on the Status of Women and other United Nations forums. Finally, we have amplified Zonta International’s call to end child marriage through coalitions, such as Girls Not Brides and the National Coalition to End Child Marriage in the United States. Together, with our partners, we will not rest until every girl has the opportunity to decide if and when she will marry.
Modes of engagement:
- Budgetary and financialZonta International has committed 2 million US Dollars to the Global Programme to End Child Marriage
Value: 2 million US Dollars
- Change or creation of legislationZonta clubs and members are advocating for local and national legislation to end child marriage.
Address gender-based violence and the harmful practices of child, early and forced marriages and female genital mutilation(5) (a) Zero sexual and gender-based violence and harmful practices, including zero child, early and forced marriage, as well as zero female genital mutilation; and (b) Elimination of all forms of discrimination against all women and girls, in order to realize all individuals’ full socio-economic potential.
