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It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and to today's event entitled "Women in Diplomacy". This event is organised on the occasion of the International Day of Women in Diplomacy, which has been established to be celebrated annually on 24 June.
Co-organised with the Office of the Gender Equality Commissioner, this event has a dual purpose. On the one hand, it sends a message of joint effort. On the other hand, it provides an opportunity to highlight the need to improve the indicators of participation. For both, my friend Josie Christodoulou has worked and is working on paving the way. Dear Josie knows that I am at her disposal for whatever she needs. She, after all, contributed, among other things, to the development and implementation of the Framework for Action on Gender Mainstreaming in Foreign Policy.
During her tenure, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs worked closely with the Office of the then Gender Equality Commissioner, Ms. Josephine Antoniou, drafting the First National Action Plan for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, "Women, Peace and Security."
During her tenure, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs worked closely with the Office of the then Gender Equality Commissioner, Ms. Josephine Antoniou, drafting the First National Action Plan for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, "Women, Peace and Security".
Our aim is for this Plan to be a vehicle for building partnerships with other states and international organizations.
I consider it self-evident that women's diplomatic action contributes greatly to the promotion of peace, dialogue and development. At the same time, we must highlight that many steps forward have also been taken in Cyprus.
For the Ministry, promoting regional and international cooperation in this important area is a priority. This can be seen in practice through our candidacy to the UN Human Rights Council for the period 2025-2027, where we have set gender equality issues as one of our priorities.
With regard to the Foreign Service, the positive aspects include the fact that women and men diplomats now have equal opportunities and equal access to the leadership ranks of the Ministry.
Allow me to quote some indicative figures. A total of 55 Cypriot women, at all levels of diplomacy, are working tirelessly in positions of great responsibility.
Ten (10) are currently serving as Chiefs of Diplomatic Missions of the Republic, including in key positions such as the Permanent Representation of Cyprus to the EU, the Delegation of the Republic of Cyprus to the OSCE, the Permanent Mission of Cyprus in Geneva, as well as in countries such as Germany and China. In my office, I am the only representative of the male gender. In addition, within the Ministry, women head important Directorates and Departments.
This, however, should not discourage us. Especially when we consider that out of a total of 166 Cypriot diplomats, only 55 of them are women.
Undoubtedly, we have a long way to go. And I believe that it is not a matter of numbers, but mainly a matter of mindset.
A mindset where the practical implementation of what we proclaim must continue, and be strengthened, with steady and methodical steps.
The key is to attract more women to join our Ministry's workforce.
With today's event, I hope that we will turn this meeting, this debate, into a forum for the exchange of experiences, concerns and actions.
And also, from the example of diplomats like the Honorary Ambassador Ms. Rea Yordamli and Ms. Koula Sofianou, prejudices and stereotypes will be overcome, and furthermore, a message will be given as to the fact that the Ministry is open to employ women who can add significantly to what we are trying to do.
We want to inspire the representatives of the younger generation through the example and experiences we will hear them share with you.
I want to close by referring to the words of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, who has also been a role-model. She was once asked how many female Supreme Court Justices would be enough to be considered to have achieved true equality. Her answer, in the disarming way and honesty she put it, was that when they managed to get all 9 seats.
I think this is indicative of how a mindset can ultimately be changed.
Thank you and I wish you well in your work today.
(MF/MB/EXP)
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