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STATEMENT || By Hon. Amanza Walton-Desir shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs ||

Today, June 24, 2022, the world celebrates the first International Day of Women in Diplomacy.

The Maldives along with the core group of countries comprising El Salvador, Eritrea, Grenada, Guyana, Kenya, Latvia, Lebanon, Malta, Qatar, Saint Lucia, and South Africa co-sponsored the resolution to establish an International Day of Women in Diplomacy on June 24th every year.

President of the UN General Assembly, Abdullah Shahid, said after its passage:

“Women working in diplomacy have made critical contributions to shaping the multilateral system we have inherited today…Yet, despite the evident contributions of women to diplomacy and multilateral decision-making, they continue to be underrepresented in senior diplomatic positions. And they still suffer the deep-rooted legacies of sexism, which hinder their professional advancement and obscure their contributions and achievements.”

He cautioned that “We cannot foster the level of diplomatic engagement and global solidarity needed to overcome today’s challenges, from climate change to pandemics, to human rights violation, to economic uncertainty, unless we not only give women a seat at the table but facilitate their ability to take on leadership roles, including in diplomacy.”

Today, I salute our women in diplomacy and call on the Government of Guyana to actively promote the increased participation of women in our diplomatic engagements.

#Guyana
#womenindiplomacy
#UN