In its resolution 76/269 of 20 June 2022, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed June 24th as the International Day of Women in Diplomacy. This important day aims to recognize and celebrate the contributions of women to diplomacy and to address the persistent barriers that hinder their equal participation at all levels of decision-making. The day serves as an opportunity for Member States, the UN system, international and regional organizations, civil society, academic institutions, associations of women diplomats, and other stakeholders to promote the full and equal participation of women in diplomacy through education and awareness-raising initiatives. Between 1992 and 2019, women represented only 13% of negotiators, 6% of mediators, and 6% of signatories in global peace processes. Gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls will also make a crucial contribution to progress across all the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and targets. The systematic mainstreaming of a gender perspective in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is crucial, especially since the Sustainable Development Goal 5 is calling for women’s equal participation in decision-making. At its 76th Session, the United Nations General Assembly by consensus declared the June 24th as International Day of Women in Diplomacy. Advocating for increased representation of women in key decision-making positions will greatly shape and implement multilateral agendas.
Online Women in Water Diplomacy Day on June 24: " 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 observance seeks to address those challenges and to emphasize the importance of women’s leadership in political decision-making processes. The second annual online event to mark the International Day of Women in Diplomacy brought together +100 water diplomats, experts and other stakeholders. The session was organized by Elizabeth A. Koch and the Network's Global Leadership Council members including representatives of the Central Asian Women in Water Management Network with the support of co-convening partners at the The United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), the OSCE - Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, The Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC), the Netherlands Institute for Human Rights, Platform on Peace Security and Human Rights Universiteit Utrecht, Kubernein Initiative, the Stronger Together Coalition of women-led water networks and SIWI - Stockholm International Water Institute.
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.
As the session’s ignite speaker Karin Fueg of UN Women highlighted,- “When we talk about meaningful participation, we mean women shaping the rules of engagement—not just implementing them. It means women’s local knowledge guiding basin strategies. It means women-led initiatives receiving long-term financial investment, not token applause. We are not just responding to crises—we are redefining cooperation: through inclusion, through trust-building, and through leadership that puts equity and sustainability at the center.”
Reference sources:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/women-in-water-diplomacy-network/posts/
https://www.internationaldays.org/june/international-day-of-women-in-diplomacy