Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, named honorary member of Zonta International

Zonta International announced today that it would award Her Royal Highness Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg an honorary membership in the organization.

"Zonta International is greatly honored and privileged to welcome Grand Duchess Maria Teresa to honorary membership in recognition of her efforts to elevate women and girls and support survivors of gender-based violence," said Zonta International President Sharon Langenbeck.

"I am very honored to receive the title of Honorary Member of Zonta International and to stand by your side," said Her Royal Highness the Grand Duchess. "As you know, I have always been defending rights for women and girls because I am convinced that their place in our society will strongly determine our common future. Equality in law and in fact, education for young girls, economic independence for women, and the fight for the elimination of violence against girls and women are major issues but also the only way to a peaceful world and a more equitable future."

She continued: "Women hold the key to change the world for the better and we must support them in achieving their goals. It is a battle that will be won project by project, village by village, but it is essential to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls because, beyond a fundamental right, it is the foundation of a more just and sustainable world."

Because of her work to promote education, women's rights and microfinance initiatives, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa was appointed a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1997. In her role, she works to give women the means to be autonomous and defend their rights.

The grand duchess is the president of the Fondation du Grand-Duc et de la Grande-Duchesse (Grand Duke Henri and the Grand Duchess Maria Teresa Foundation), which was created in 2004 by the merger of two previous organizations. The foundation focuses on helping children with learning disabilities and supporting single moms and survivors of domestic abuse, also helping people in situations of vulnerability.

Click here to read a press release and learn more about Grand Duchess Maria Teresa and the Zonta International honorary membership.

9 MARCH 2022