Gender Team: What are some of the changes and progress you have seen in terms of promoting gender equality since the adoption of the first UNOV/UNODC Gender Mainstreaming Strategy? Are there any moments and achievements that stand out?
Martin Nesirky: From a communications perspective, the first strategy contributed to greater traction, recognition and action. It helped deliver human stories on women’s empowerment and gender equality from UNODC field offices.
Gender Team: What do you think are the next big steps towards closing the gender gap in the work that your Office does and where would you like to be in 2026 in terms of gender equality?
Martin Nesirky: Women’s empowerment and gender equality are key communications priorities across the work of the Department of Global Communications, the parent department for the UN Information Service, Vienna. UNIS Vienna will continue to build on its work in this area in outreach activities, guided tours, lectures, social media and media. We’ll also help to support the new Gender Strategy.
More generally, statistics and indicators are vital measures of progress for any strategy. Yet relatable, jargon-free and concrete individual human stories that illustrate the bigger picture help to break through those numbers and register more effectively with personnel and others.
Gender Team: How do you view the role of leadership in successfully promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in UNOV/UNODC’s work and its working environment?
Martin Nesirky: Leadership plays an important role, especially when the manager is flexible, tolerant and approachable.
