PH Ambassador to Austria Joins International Gender Champions — Vienna Initiative

Ambassador Maria Zeneida Angara Collinson joins other leaders of the International Gender Champions - Vienna Initiative.

05 July 2017 VIENNA — Philippine Ambassador to Vienna Maria Zeneida Angara Collinson joined the International Gender Champions — Vienna Initiative, a leadership network bringing together female and male decision-makers committed to breaking down gender barriers.  The initiative was launched in Vienna, Austria on June 14.

Along with 52 other leaders of the UN and senior diplomats, Ambassador Collinson made pledges on gender equality. The initiative in Vienna was led by H.E. Mrs. Pilar Saborio De Rocafort, head of the Permanent Mission of Costa Rica, H.E. Mr. Andrej Benedejcic, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Slovenia, and Chargé d’Affaires Andrew J. Schofer, Permanent Mission of the United States of America.

The event was kicked-off by a video message from UN Secretary General António Guterres, who is doing everything possible as Secretary-General to achieve true equality, for justice and effectiveness. H.E. Yukia Amano, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and H.E. Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), as well as other heads and senior leaders from the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV), the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) are also supporting the initiative in Vienna.

Gender equality is essential for humanity to achieve peace, defend rights, foster economic growth, and promote the well-being of all. Committed executive leaders will generate momentum at the highest levels to champion meaningful change and facilitate strong cross-cutting links for the greatest possible impact.

For more information, visit www.viennape.dfa.gov.ph / www.philippine-embassy.at. END