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20 November 2025, Vienna, Austria – “Identify Me: Policy Solutions for Transnational Femicide” highlights the urgent need for cross-border cooperation to end violence against women.
On 20 November 2025, the Permanent Mission of Sweden to the UN in Vienna convened diplomats, UN experts, law-enforcement specialists, civil society leaders and activists for a high-impact event marking the UN’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence and the global Orange the World campaign.
Among the participants was Marizel Rojas, Chairperson of ENFiD-Austria (European Network of Filipino Diaspora–Austria), who joined all three components of the programme: the film screening, the expert panel, and the Orange Run Vienna 2025. She represented the Filipino diaspora community’s strong advocacy for women’s rights and the global fight against gender-based violence.
The programme opened with the world premiere of Identify Me, a 40-minute documentary produced by France 2’s Envoyé Spécial. The film follows INTERPOL’s campaign to resolve 47 cold cases of unidentified women found across Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain – many believed to be victims of femicide.
Through interviews with investigators, forensic specialists, and affected families, the documentary underscores the urgency of restoring victims’ identities, securing justice, and increasing awareness of femicide as a transnational crime.
The event was formally opened by:
- H.E. Annika Ben David, Ambassador of Sweden to Austria
- Sonja Wintersberger, Officer-in-Charge, United Nations Information Service (UNIS) Vienna
Both speakers reiterated their commitment to strengthening international cooperation and raising public awareness to prevent violence against women.
After the screening, an expert panel discussed “Femi(ni)cide: Policy Solutions for Transnational Gender-Based Violence.” Representatives examined justice mechanisms, data-sharing, victim identification, and the role of civil society.
The panel included:
- Ambassador Alison Grant, Ambassador of Canada to Austria
- Susan Hitchin, Coordinator, INTERPOL DNA Unit
- Anna Giudice, Team Leader, Access to Justice, UNODC
- Helene Gressenbauer-Rösner, President, UN Women Austria
- Hubert Steger, Managing Director, Männerberatung Wien
Moderated by Floriane Bacconnier, Head of the Office of INTERPOL’s Special Representative to the UN in Vienna.
ENFiD-Austria Chairperson Marizel Rojas attended the dialogue as part of ENFiD’s longstanding advocacy for migrant women’s safety, empowerment, and access to justice. Her participation highlights the Filipino diaspora’s engagement in international initiatives addressing gender-based violence.
The programme was followed by the Orange Run Vienna 2025, an awareness activity open to all. Marizel Rojas also took part in the run, symbolizing ENFiD-Austria’s solidarity with global movements calling for an end to violence against women and girls.
The 3-in-1 event concluded with an 18:45 reception at Schwedenhaus, where participants gathered for networking, refreshments, and reflections on the day’s themes of justice, solidarity, and action. The reception provided space for deeper conversation, partnership-building, and collective commitment to advancing global efforts against femicide and gender-based violence.
Today’s event combined film, expert dialogue, and public mobilization to spotlight femicide as a global human rights emergency. With active participation from partners such as ENFiD-Austria, the event reaffirmed the collective responsibility of governments, international organizations, and civil society to demand justice and uphold the dignity of women worldwide.
For more information, please get in touch with the ENFiD-Austria via email: enfid.austria@gmail.com
About the author
Sarah Jozelle Rojas studies a Bachelor of Arts in Publications, Media & Communications & Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University of Vienna. She is actively engaged as a member of international organizations such as the United Nations Women’s Guild (UNWG), the United Nations Correspondents Association Vienna (UNCAV) and the Women’s Federation for World Peace International (WFWPI). She is a Director/Board Member of the European Network of Filipino Diaspora (ENFiD), a member of the Philippine-Austrian Cultural and Educational Society (PACES), Vienna International Centre Club Filipino (VIC CF) and Bikol Society Austria (BSA), organizations in which she advocates for intercultural dialogue and community empowerment within the Filipino diaspora.
- picture: Instagram
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