On 8 March, International Women’s Day, we’re delighted to let you know that Martine Abel-Williamson is standing for the President of the World Blind Union.
Martine began her work in the Asia-Pacific region in 2007 when she was New Zealand’s delegate to the WBUAP Regional General Assembly in China. She became a WBUAP & Policy Council member in 2008 as the Chair of the Women’s Committee. Later she served for a short time as the regional Vice-President.
In 2012 Martine became one of our region’s WBU Executive Committee members becoming the global portfolio holder for the areas of access to the environment and transport.
In 2016, Martine was elected WBU treasurer. She has kept up her work in the region by being the Pacific-Oceania rep on ICEVI as well as the region’s UN Advocacy Network Co-ordinator.
The elections for WBU officers will take place at the General Assembly in Madrid, Spain, on 19 June. We wish Martine well as she stands for this new and very important leadership role.
On this International Women’s Day, WBU encourages countries to develop national policies and frameworks that include women and girls who are blind and partially sighted.
The WBU has also launched a Women’s Empowerment Award to recognize blind or partially sighted women who have worked exceptionally to empower other women. The first Women Empowerment Award will be presented at the WBU General Assembly in June this year. Nominations are now open and the deadline is 31 March 2020. The WBU Women’s Committee feels that this award will encourage others to participate more fully in their communities. Visit our website for more information.