Soroptimist International congratulates Martina Gredler on
being elected Chair of NGO CSW Vienna. This wonderful achievement acknowledges
Martina’s dedicated work representing SI at the
United Nations in Vienna since 2011.

International Director of Advocacy Pat Black shares her
congratulatory message: “Through Soroptimist International we know that Martina
is an extremely active and enthusiastic supporter of women’s rights and that
she will direct her energies on behalf of the NGO CSW Vienna group to ensure
that civil society has a strong voice in all their representative committees. I
believe that Martina will lead the group to challenge stakeholders so that
women and girls can be educated, empowered and enabled. Congratulations
Martina!”

This committee focuses exclusively on the status of women,
and is therefore extremely relevant to the work of Soroptimist International. Taking issues that confront
and challenge women to the global level, NGO CSW Vienna is a key mechanism for
representing the needs of women and girls.

 

Image: SI UN Representative Martina Gredler (right) with the President of the Commission of Crime and Criminal Justice (left).

Martina knows very well the difference that NGO CSW Vienna can
make. “As we look forward to the 60^th Session of the Commission on
the Status of Women in New York this March 2016, we must work hard to change the
attitudes towards women". says Martina. "The UN system and all its member countries should
respect the needs of women and girls, and need to do more to support them. At
this critical year it is possible for us to achieve it. The importance of
gender equality, and the special role women can play in our societies should
not be underestimated. This is what we are focusing on in our work.”

As an SI UN Representative, Martina has been extremely active, not only
taking on important work at the Vienna Centre, but also representing SI at the 13^th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, held in
Doha last year.

 

Image: You can see Martina in action in this UN Web TV video at the
UN’s 13^th Crime Congress where she speaks to governments, experts
and NGOs about the impact that women can make in their communities.Click on the image above to watch.

Many congratulations to Martina and all the other NGO CSW
Vienna executive committee members who were recently elected.