‘Involve more women in diplomacy’

Panel says women diplomats can bring positive elements to the negotiating table

More women need to be involved in international diplomacy, said a panel of female ambassadors who spoke at the Emirates Diplomatic Academy (EDA) in Abu Dhabi yesterday.

They said that women diplomats can bring positive elements to the negotiating table.

The panel talk was organised by the EDA in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, with the discussion centred on the challenges women face when entering international diplomacy and related fields, and how these challenges can be addressed.

“Women are essential to overcome obstacles that are, I would say, not as big as you think. All problems always have a solution, but we have to talk [and have to get women involved],” said Dominque Mineur, Belgium’s Ambassador to the UAE. “That’s something women can do easily, to [be able] to have this sort of soft approach to talk to people, [and] to try and have informal she added.

“The problem today is that when you watch negotiations with different conflicts, how many women do you see going to be a part of those negotiations? It’s very little and that’s the problem,” she said, highlighting the lack of female diplomats involved in conflict resolution negotiations.

Francisca Mendez Escobar, Ambassador of Mexico to the UAE, also speaking on the panel, said that education starting from school was one of the most important ways for raising awareness and changing attitudes about the role of women in society. discussions,”