International Day of Women In Diplomacy 2024; June 24th.

FORUM:"Women’s Leadership in Multilateral Diplomacy." International Day of Women In Diplomacy 2024. In its resolution 76/269 of 20 June 2022, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 24 June of each year as the International Day of Women in Diplomacy. This significant day aims to celebrate the contributions of women to diplomacy and highlight challenges that prevent the equal participation of women at all levels of decision-making. It provides an opportunity for Member States, the UN system, other international and regional organizations, civil society, academic institutions, associations of women diplomats and other stakeholders to promote the full and equal participation of women at all levels of diplomacy through education and awareness-raising activities. Despite their undeniable contributions, women continue to face barriers and inequalities in leadership and decision-making spaces, including in diplomacy. The representation of women in key diplomatic roles, such as negotiators and mediators in peace processes, remains low. The International Day of Women in Diplomacy seeks to address those challenges and to emphasize the importance of women’s leadership in political decision-making processes. The second annual commemorative event to mark the International Day of Women in Diplomacy at the United Nations Headquarters in New York will bring together high-level government officials, diplomats, senior representatives of the UN system and other stakeholders. The event aims to facilitate interactive discussions and exchanges on the contributions, challenges and opportunities for women in diplomacy to catalyze change and transformation in multilateral affairs. Building on last year’s commemoration, the event will feature an informal discussion on ways to strengthen women’s leadership in multilateral organizations. Over the past year, women took the helm for the first time of several organizations in the UN system (IOM, ITU, WMO). At the same time, women continue to be underrepresented in leadership positions in all fields of diplomacy. According to a recent report published by GWL Voices, women lead only one third of multilateral organizations. Over the past 78 years, only 4 women served as Presidents of the General Assembly and only one out of Main Committee chairs is a woman during the current session of the Assembly. Furthermore, no woman has ever been appointed as Secretary-General of the United Nations. Against this background, the discussion will explore challenges and opportunities to strengthen women’s leadership in the multilateral arena.

EVENTS: On Monday, June 24th, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.  at the Trusteeship Council Chamber, UN Headquarters, New York, the commemorative eventto mark the International Day of Women in Diplomacy 2024 under the theme ''Women’s Leadership in Multilateral Diplomacy'' will be held. Wacth the livestream!