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18 June 2026, Vienna, Austria – The Women’s Federation for World Peace Europe and Middle East (WFWP – EUME) hosted a HERStory session featuring Ms. Maria Zelda “Marizel” Rojas, diaspora advocate, during an online Zoom meeting on 18 June 2026.
Mss. Rojas, a longtime staff member of the Comprehensive Nuclear Testban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) in Vienna, is widely recognized for her work in connecting Filipino communities with Austrian society and international networks. She serves as Founder and Chair of ENFiD‑Austria, Adviser to ENFiD Europe, and represents diaspora communities across 13 countries. Her civic and organizational engagements include leadership roles as First Vice President of the United Nations Women’s Guild (UNWG), Board Member of the United Nations Correspondents Association Vienna (UNCAV), liaison for the Philippines and Board Member of the European Police Association (EPA) Austria.
She is one of the founders and former president of the Philippine Cultural and Educational Society (PACES), the former president and current advisor of the VIC Club Filipino and president of Bikol Society Austria. She is also a member and 2019 awardee of the Filipina Women’s Network (FWN) as one of the Most influential Filipina Women in the world. In 2025 she was knighted into the Order of the Golden Spur.
The HERStory series is part of WFWP’s ongoing initiative to highlight women’s leadership journeys across Europe and the MENA region. The program aims to strengthen intercultural understanding and promote women’s contributions to peacebuilding and community development. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4IlRuCAhJg
During her presentation, Ms. Rojas shared insights from her professional career, her long-standing service within the United Nations system, and her extensive involvement in diaspora organizations. She emphasized the importance of bridge‑building, representation, and Europe‑centered partnerships in advancing sustainable peace.
WFWP expressed appreciation for Ms. Rojas’s participation and reaffirmed its commitment to providing platforms where women’s experiences and leadership can inspire collective progress.
About the Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP)
The Women’s Federation for World Peace International (WFWPI) is an NGO in General Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and associated with the UN Department of Global Communications (DGC). WFWP promotes peacebuilding, education, and women’s leadership through advocacy, training, and community programs worldwide.
About the author
Sarah Jozelle Magistrado Rojas studies Bachelor of Arts in Publications, Media & Communications & Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology at the University of Vienna. She is currently the Newsletter Editor Alternate 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), member of ENFiD-Austria, 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.
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