LEGISLATIVE AWARENESS

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• LEGISLATIVE AWARENESS
• AND
• ADVOCACY
• Denise Conroy
• Chairman
• Zonta International LAA Committee
• March 2009
• Adapted for District 7 Area Meetings
• Kathy Swan, District Governor

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A WORKING DEFINITION OF ADVOCACY

• Advocacy is an action directed at change.
• It is putting a problem on the agenda,
  providing a solution to that problem, building
  support for that solution and for the action
  necessary to implement that solution.

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• WHAT IS SOCIAL JUSTICE ADVOCACY?
• Social justice advocacy is public advocacy, which
  draws attention to an injustice and promotes the
  public good. It focuses attention on improving
  the well-being of the poor and marginalized
  members of the community. For example, social
  justice public advocacy efforts take up issues
  relating to women, children, workers, the
  disabled, etc. For Zonta International, the
  focus must be on women and the girl child.

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• In summary, Advocacy begins with a problem or
  with a perception that there is a better
  alternative to a current condition and seeks to
  solve that problem and/or implement the selected
  alternative.

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ZONTA INTERNATIONALADVOCACY POLICY

• As adopted by the Zonta International Board, at
  its February 2000 meeting as last amended by the
  Zonta International Board, January 2009. (Refer
  to the Zonta International Website LAA Page).

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ADVOCACY DEFINITION - CURRENT Advocacy is the
expression of support for or opposition to a
cause, argument or proposal. Advocacy may
include influencing laws, legislation or
attitudes. Zonta International, its districts,
and its clubs are urged to express themselves
about and become involved in issues
which Improve the legal, political, economic,
educational, health and professional status of
women Advance understanding, goodwill, and
peace through a world fellowship of executives in
business and the professions and Promote
justice and universal respect for human rights
and fundamental freedoms.
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• ADVOCACY GOALS
• Zonta International, its districts, and its
  clubs, shall be nonpartisan and nonsectarian.
• 2. Zonta International, its districts, and its
  clubs are encouraged to support legislation
  submitted to a legislative body for its
  consideration, which advances the implementation
  of the Objects of Zonta, the mandates of Zonta
  International Resolutions (current), the Beijing
  Declaration from the United Nations Fourth World
  Conference on Women and its updates and the
  Millennium Development Goals and their updates.

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• Zonta International, its districts, and its clubs
  will ascertain if there are other like-minded
  organizations or individuals researching issues
  regarding the legal, political, economic,
  educational, health and professional status of
  women, and co-operate with these other
  organizations and individuals when appropriate.
  (Refer to Revised Policy on Affiliation of Zonta
  with Other Organizations ZI Website, LAA Page).

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• Whenever it is more effective to do so, Zonta
  International, its districts, and its clubs will
  work in co-operation with other organizations to
  educate people (including ourselves) about the
  legal, political, economic, educational, health
  and professional issues which affect the lives of
  women and the actions we must initiate to effect
  a positive change.
• 5. When Zonta International, its districts, and
  its clubs host or sponsor educative activities,
  every effort should be made for a well-balanced
  presentation of the facts and viewpoints.

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• Zonta International, its districts, and its clubs
  may register protests concerning violations of
  human rights with the Zonta International United
  Nations Committee.
• Clubs shall not otherwise express positions on
  issues involving a country other than their own
  except with the prior approval of the
  International President through the International
  United Nations Chairman.
• Districts shall not otherwise express positions
  on issues involving countries other than their
  own except with the prior approval of the
  International President through the International
  United Nations Chairman.
• c. Individual Zonta members shall not otherwise
  express positions on issues involving a country
  other than their own except with prior approval
  of the International President through the
  International United Nations Chairman.

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• Zonta International, its districts, and its clubs
  shall not advocate on behalf of, or endorse, a
  political candidate or party, or any religious
  denomination.
• Zonta International, its districts, and its clubs
  may endorse qualified individuals for nonpartisan
  positions.

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• Zonta clubs may express their opinion on issues
  only as clubs. Zonta districts may express their
  opinions only as districts. The Convention may
  express opinions on issues on behalf of Zonta
  International. Between conventions, only the
  Zonta International Board may express opinions
  on issues on behalf of Zonta International.
  Subject to Article 6c individual Zonta members
  may express a position on issues involving a
  country other than their own providing they use
  the exact wording of the position as contained in
  material adopted by the Zonta International Board
  or the International Presidents approval given
  through the International United Nations
  Chairman.

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• Individual members may express their personal
  views on issues which have not been given prior
  approval by the International President, through
  the International UN Chairman, only as private
  citizens, but must not attribute them to a Zonta
  club or District or to Zonta International.
• 10. Districts may include guidelines for the
  process for determining their advocacy activity
  in their district rules of procedure providing
  that such guidelines conform to the
  International Guidelines.

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ZONTA INTERNATIONALADVOCACY PROTOCOL
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• Please Note
• No-one other than the International
  President/International Board can sign on behalf
  of Zonta International
• Club Presidents can only sign on behalf of club
  if a motion is passed by a majority of members at
  a club meeting. (Club Boards of Directors cannot
  make policy/pass motions or take action binding a
  club).
• On advocacy matters to be decided by the club,
  advance notice of discussion should be given
  (agenda items) and any papers distributed to all
  members before any vote is taken.
• Governors, clubs, individuals should only
  advocate on matters pertaining to their own
  jurisdictions. Concerns re matters in other
  countries should be referred to the Chairman of
  the United Nations Committee. ( Refer to the
  Advocacy Policy, Section 9 for further
  information).

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• Zonta must remain nonpartisan and nonsectarian in
  advocacy action and on issues.
• Zonta Districts, Clubs and members should not
  sign petitions in Zontas name.
• Send a copy of your letter/action to your
  District LAA Chairman and to the International
  Chairman of the Legislative Awareness and
  Advocacy Committee
• Contacts ( See International Directory)
• Chairman, LAA Committee Denise Conroy
• (email
  d.conroy_at_qut.edu.au)
• Chairman, UN Committee Jackie Shapiro
• (email jacci007_at_aol.com )

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LINKING ADVOCACY WITH SERVICE and
AWARDS AWARDS/COMMITTEES PROGRAMS
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What is Lobbying?
Lobbying is an organised attempt by an
individual, an organisation or groups of
individuals and/or organisations to influence on
behalf of a particular interest all the
stakeholders involved in preparing and passing
legislation. Such stakeholders include
ministerial advisers and staff, legislative
drafters, policy makers, members of Parliament,
portfolio committee members, select committees,
the staff of various committees, experts and
consultants serving those committees, etc. It
also means seeking the support of an influential
person or persons and providing accurate
information which legislators can use in their
decision-making. Lobbying is a give-and-take
process that also involves gathering new
information and analysis, which enables lobbyists
to strengthen their own strategies.
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What is the difference between lobbying and
advocacy?
Lobbying is only one part of advocacy one tool
amongst many. The difference between advocacy
and lobbying can be explained as follows
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ZONTA DOES NOT LOBBY
We must not use the L word lobby. Zonta MUST
be non-partisan and non-sectarian (Bylaw Article
III, Section I) We must remain independent of all
political parties and lobby groups in order to
maintain our non-partisan stance AND to avoid
being used by other organisations to further
their own ends. Lobbying tactics usually
involve giving support either money, votes,
endorsement or suggesting that support will be
directed elsewhere. It is a political tactic
and NOT one endorsed by Zonta International. We
must use the word advocate in all correspondence
and presentations.
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FOUNDATION STATUS 501c(3)
The Zonta International Foundation (and some
Zonta Clubs) in the USA has tax deductible
status. There is some provision in the law for
advocacy to influence legislation Section
501(h) which promotes balance in the presentation
of conflicting views and eases the burden of
administration of Section 501c(3).
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Any charitable body can (lobby) advocate
legally, using one of 2 standards by which their
compliance with the IRS Code is
measured. (i) insubstantial part test
(1934) (ii) Section 501 (h) expenditure test
(1976) (called the 20 rule)
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In the USA direct lobbying is defined as
communication with either a legislator, an
employee of a legislative body or any other
government employee who may participate in the
formulation of the legislation. There is usually
a reference to a specific piece of legislation,
and a view on it is taken/expressed. This action
is NOT to be undertaken in Zontas name unless
agreed to by the LAA/UN Chairman.
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• EXCEPTIONS TO DIRECT LOBBYING ARE
• Non-partisan analysis, study or research that
  presents all sides of an issue.
• Responses to written requests for assistance from
  committees or other legislative bodies.
• Challenges to, or support for, legislative
  proposals that would change the organizations
  rights or its right to exist.
• Examination and discussion of broad social,
  economic and similar problems.

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All Zonta Clubs in the US are regarded as tax
exempt (Section 501c(4)), and any Zonta Clubs
with tax deductible status (Section 501c(3)),
should seek professional advice from tax advisors
BEFORE undertaking any activity which meets the
IRS/Treasury definition of direct lobbying as
this can affect your status in these categories.
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ZONTA INTERNATIONAL POSITION ON LETTER-WRITING BY
ZONTIANS, ZONTA CLUBS, DISTRICTS

• That any advocacy which involves co-ordinated
  letter-writing by members/clubs be checked with
  the LAA Chairman/UN Chairman before proceeding.
• Advocacy on major Conventions will be
  co-ordinated through the LAA Chairman/UN Chairman
  and draft letters/templates will be provided for
  use by members/clubs/districts.
• Above all, advocacy can only take place on
  matters covered by Zontas Objects (a) and (c) -
  improving the legal, political, economic,
  educational, health status of women and promoting
  justice and universal respect for human rights
  and fundamental freedoms.

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• LEGISLATIVE AWARENESS means that we know the
  process by which laws are created at the local,
  state and federal (national) level of government,
  from the first mention/thought on the issue
  through to the passage or defeat of a law.
• LEGISLATIVE AWARENESS also means that we know
  how to have laws repealed or changed, how to
  prepare submissions for parliamentary inquiries
  or reviews, and how to present a logical,
  comprehensive case to support our views/arguments
  for or against it.
• This awareness or discipline is referred to as
  the public policy process. It is the starting
  point for advocacy.

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• LEGISLATIVE AWARENESS also means educating
  yourself about the Division of Powers in your
  country that is, what each level of government
  is responsible for.
• You also need to know whether each level of
  government has co-equal powers, or whether one
  level is superior to (ie. can over-rule)
  another level.

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• IT IS ALSO HELPFUL TO KNOW ABOUT
• The Constitution
• Federal (National) and State legislature
  processes
• Local Government processes
• How laws are made
• The agencies/departments which implement and
  enforce laws
• How and when you can participate in the
  legislative process

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HOW CAN WE INFORM OURSELVES ON LEGISLATIVE
MATTERS?

• Check your parliaments website
• Run a seminar session with invited
  (knowledgeable) speakers
• Ask someone in your State who lectures in
  politics or public policy or who has a Masters
  Degree in these fields
• Ask a senior politician how laws are made/to
  explain the legislative process
• Better still, recruit people in these occupations
  as members
• ( See www.mkogy.hu/world.parliaments.htm)

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• ADVOCACY CHECKLIST
• Choose an issue that promotes the status of women
• - education
• - health
• - legal
• - social
• - economic
• - human rights
• Use the SCORE CARD and the Advocacy Framework
  which links Zontas Objects to CEDAW Articles
  (See ZI Website LAA page)

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Ensure that the Club/District is in agreement
about the issue as one suitable for ZONTA
ADVOCACY ie. AVOID -partisan/sectarian
issues -issues which may divide the membership
(eg. abortion, euthanasia, legalised
prostitution, genetic research, etc.) Issues
where there is no majority (95) agreement
should be pursued as INDIVIDUAL advocacy (i.e. in
ones own name NOT in Zontas name).
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NON PARTISAN / NON SECTARIAN
Definitions of these terms are given in the IBL
(now Governing Documents) Booklet. Item 8 of the
Advocacy Policy requires that we nominate persons
ONLY FOR NON PARTISAN positions (ie.
NON-POLITICAL positions not influenced by,
affiliated with, or supporting the interest or
policies of any persons or party) The same would
apply to SECTARIAN organisations (affiliation
with any particular religion or sect). Zonta
must, at all times, be seen to be totally
impartial with respect to religious, sectarian or
political organisations, and to not favour any
one particular belief over another with respect
to ideology or dogma. These are matters for
PERSONAL CHOICE.
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• PLAN YOUR ADVOCACY ACTIVITY
• - Know your issue (high level of expertise
  required)
• Establish your objectives
• Conduct a stakeholder analysis to identify
  opposition
• Develop a strategy
• Identify and mobilize required resources
• Monitor and evaluate the progress
• Avoid conflicts of interest at all times
• Conduct advocacy in an ethical manner
• KNOW YOUR LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM AND PROCESSES

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WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO YOU?

• RESOURCES ON THE Z.I. WEBSITE LAA PAGE
• ADVOCACY/SERVICE SCORECARD (does it meet our
  Objects?)
• ADVOCACY FRAMEWORK (matching Zontas Objects
  with CEDAW Articles 1-16)
• WHEN/WHO TO TAKE ACTION (at what level
  International, District, Club should the issue
  be dealt with?)
• HOW SHOULD ADVOCACY PROCEED? (what
  policies/guidelines are applicable? Conduct
  thorough research check District and Club
  advocacy processes).

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• APPLYING ZONTAS SCORECARD TO THE INTERNATIONAL
  SERVICE/ZISVAW 2008-2010 PROJECTS (plus Beijing
  10 Goals and the Millennium Development Goals
  (MDGs) and Millennium Summit 5)
• This demonstrates our connectivity to key
  platforms
• for women (including CEDAW) and enhances our
• consultative status with the United Nations.

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INSTRUMENTS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW CONCERNING WOMEN

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
• Convention of the Political Rights of Women
  (1952)
• International Covenant on Civil and Political
  Rights (1966)
• International Covenant on Economic, Social and
  Cultural Rights (1966)
• Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of
  Discrimination against Women (1967)
• Declaration on the Protection of Women and
  Children in Emergency and Armed Conflict (1974)
• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
  Discrimination against Women (1979)
• Declaration of the Elimination of Violence
  against Women (1993)
• Inter-American Convention for the Prevention,
  Punishment and Elimination of Violence against
  Women (Belém do Pará Convention) (1995)
• Universal Declaration on Democracy (1997)
• Optional Protocol to the Convention on the
  Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
  against Women (1999)

At its 162nd session (Windhoek, 11 April 1998),
the Inter-Parliamentary Council took a special
decision on the recommendation of women
parliamentarians entitled Parliamentary action
for national follow-up to international
agreements and treaties regarding women.
Access this information at www.ipu.org/wmn-e/law.h
tm
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RELATED DOCUMENTS
BEIJING DECLARATION AND PLATFORM FOR
ACTION www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/beijing/platform/
plat1.htm www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/beijing/index.
htm BEIJING 5 (2000) AND 10 (2005) CRITICAL
AREAS OF CONCERN www.un.org/womenwatch/forum/index
.html (Report
E/CN.6/2000/PC/CRP.1) www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cs
w/csw49/documents.html (Report
E/CN.6/2005/2) MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS
(2000) www.un.org/womenwatch/millenniumgoals/relat
edsites.html MILLENNIUM 5 SUMMIT
(2005) www.un.org/summit2005/
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OTHER SOURCES

• LAA Resources CEDAW and the Optional Protocol to
  CEDAW See LAA page on ZI website. See also
  Zonta Countries, CEDAW Signatures, Reports for
  latest country reports submitted.
• UN High Commissioner for Human Rights treaties,
  declarations, documents www.unhchr.ch/map.htm
• World Health Organisations topics on womens
  health (FGM, HIV-Aids, Violence etc)
  www.who.int/topics
• World Bank Database of Gender Statistics
  http//genderstats.worldbank.org/menu.asp
• Council of Europe www.coe.int (equality between
  men and women, trafficking, violence against
  women)
• UN Economic Commission for Europe Gender
  Statistics website www.unece.org/stats/gender
• The European Convention on Human Rights
• http//conventions.coe.int/Treaty

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ASSISTANCE WITH ADVOCACY
Contact the Zonta International LAA
Committee Denise Conroy, Chairman d.conroy_at_qut.e
du.au Connie Deckert
cedeckert_at_bellnet.ca Kikuko (Kitty) Hara
kikuhara_at_tky.3web.ne.jp A.O.
Omotayo (Tayo) Morgan
victoriabolajoko_at_yaho
o.co.uk Bev Morrow
dougnbev_at_bresnan.net
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ASSISTANCE WITH ADVOCACY
Contact the District LAA Committee Sherrill
Mulhern, Chair sherrillmulhern_at_yahoo.com Minnes
ota Coordinator North Dakota Coordinator South
Dakota Coordinator Kansas Coordinator Missouri
Coordinator
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How do clubs engage in LAA?

• LEGISLATIVE AWARENESS
• a. Form a club LAA Committee
• b. Invite a legislator or other informed
  speaker to present a club program on the
  legislative process.
• c. Keep watch on local policymaking activities
• d. Keep watch on state legislative activities

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How do clubs engage in LAA?

• ADVOCACY
• a. Do you have an elevator speech for What is
  Zonta?
• b. Use www.zonta.org as a resource to
  understand how club projects ZI projects link
  to our ZI objects
• Have you identified a problem/initiative?
• Does the problem/initiative advance the status
  of women?
• Does it advance or impede the implementation of
  the objects of ZI?

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How do clubs engage in LAA?

• If so, (1) Bring the problem to the club for
  consideration according to proper
  procedure. Determine what action will be
  taken.
• (2) Is there another like-minded
  organization with which to cooperate?
• (3) Discuss club-approved action
  plan with District LAA Chair
• Celebrate UN Day
• e. Participate in 16 Days of Activism
• CONTACT DISTRICT LAA CHAIR Sherrill Mulhern
• sherrillmulhern_at_yahoo.com

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To learn more Register on ZI website Visit ZI
LAA Committee page

www.zonta.org