International Day of Women in Diplomacy is celebrated annually on June 24th to recognize the important contributions and achievements of women in the field of diplomacy. The day aims to promote gender equality in diplomacy and to encourage the participation of women in peace and security negotiations.
History
The International Day of Women in Diplomacy was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2018. The resolution was co-sponsored by over 50 countries and was adopted by consensus.
Importance
The International Day of Women in Diplomacy is an important opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women in diplomacy and to raise awareness of the challenges they face. The day also serves to promote gender equality in diplomacy and to encourage the participation of women in peace and security negotiations.
Challenges Facing Women in Diplomacy
Women in diplomacy continue to face a number of challenges, including:
- Gender discrimination: Women are often underrepresented in diplomatic positions and are less likely to be promoted to senior positions.
- Sexual harassment and violence: Women in diplomacy are often subjected to sexual harassment and violence, which can create a hostile work environment and make it difficult for women to succeed.
- Lack of access to training and opportunities: Women in diplomacy often have less access to training and opportunities than men, which can limit their career development.
Progress
Despite the challenges, there has been some progress in terms of gender equality in diplomacy. In recent years, more women have been appointed to senior diplomatic positions and there have been a number of initiatives to promote the participation of women in peace and security negotiations.
Did you know?
- There are 31 countries where 34 women serve as Heads of State and/or Government as of January 2023.
- Of the five United Nations-led or co-led peace processes in 2021, two were led by women mediators, and all five consulted with civil society and were provided with gender expertise.
- In 2022, the Security Council held its first-ever formal meeting focusing on reprisals against women participating in peace and security processes.
- In multilateral disarmament forums, wide gaps persist in women’s participation and women remain grossly underrepresented in many weapons-related fields, including technical arms control – only 12 percent of Ministers of Defense globally are women.
- Countries where there are more women in legislative and executive branches of government have less defense spending and more social spending.
Conclusion
The International Day of Women in Diplomacy is an important opportunity to celebrate the progress that has been made in terms of gender equality in diplomacy and to reaffirm the commitment to achieving full gender equality in this field.
To watch the United Nations Commemorative Event to mark International Day of Women in Diplomacy 2024, click HERE.
