Zonta International was founded in 1919 and is an international association of professional women who are committed to improving the position of women in the legal, political, economic, health and professional spheres.

In June 1976, over 2000 delegates from forty countries dressed in their national costumes and carried their flags to the 43rd World Congress of the Women's Movement in the Rhein-Main-Hallen in Wiesbaden. At this time, over 25,000 members were organized in 700 ZONTA clubs in the international women's movement founded in 1919.

At a reception hosted by the board of directors in the ballroom of the town hall on June 27, Mayor Herbel was deeply honored by the choice of Wiesbaden as the first venue for a world congress outside the USA. He emphasized everyone's interest in achieving both legal and practical equality for women. After a speech of thanks for the friendly welcome, the current President Eleanor Jammal from the United States and her successor France de La Chaise-Mutin from France signed the city's Golden Book.