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WOMEN IN DIPLOMACY LEAD THE DEBATE HOSTED BY ITALY’S PERMANENT MISSION TO THE UN

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On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Italy’s membership in the United Nations and on the margins the 69th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69 – underway in New York until March 21), the Permanent Mission of Italy to the UN in New York promoted, in collaboration with the group of women Ambassadors to the UN, the event “Women in Diplomacy, between global challenges and opportunities”.

The event, opened by Ambassador Massari, was moderated by the Permanent Representative of Denmark to the UN, Ambassador Christina Markus-Lassen (current President of the UN Security Council) and featured a panel with the PR of Qatar, El Salvador and Albania to the United Nations.

The debate addressed  issues such as the historical and current barriers that have prevented or still prevent women from entering diplomacy and women’s participation in mediation and peace processes. The discussion also offered a contrast of various proposals on policies to be promoted to remove such barriers. “73 countries in the world have never appointed a female Ambassador to the United Nations, and those currently serving in New York represent only 25% of the total. Gender balance in diplomacy is not only a moral imperative, but determinant for effective governance at the national and international levels.

It is also difficult to talk about effective multilateralism without the full involvement of women in the decision-making processes and their implementation,” commented Ambassador Massari.

In its 80 years in place, the United Nations has never been led by a woman, while the UN General Assembly has historically been led by only four women. In Italy, women have only been able to access the diplomatic career since 1967.