Zonta International is a global organization of women and men dedicated to empowering women worldwide through service and advocacy. The Zonta USA Advocacy Action Center is a tool for our members in the United States and other individuals who share our commitment to gender equality to take action to improve the lives of women and girls. With your help, we can make a difference. In addition to the actions below, click here to support our joint efforts with UNICEF USA to end child marriage in the United States.
The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was passed by Congress in 1972; however, it has never been fully ratified. Its ratification would provide a constitutional guarantee that all men and women are truly equal under the law and that these rights cannot be easily abridged. Without the ERA, women do not have equal rights under the law.
The Equal Rights Amendment will make it clear that sex discrimination in employment, education or any other space is a violation of women’s constitutional rights as Americans. It will also provide a clearer and stricter judicial standard for deciding cases of sex discrimination.
On January 21, Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA), joined by Congressman Tom Reed (R-NY) and 195 cosponsors, introduced H.J.Res.17 to facilitate expeditious ratification of the ERA. On January 22, Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), joined by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), introduced S.J.Res.1 to remove the deadline to ratify the ERA. With a bipartisan team leading the way, we think we can get more cosponsors to sign on, but we need your help. Use our pre-drafted letter to send to your members of Congress.
Click here to see an advocacy reporting map for this action.