New York: The United Arab Emirates joined its global counterparts to recently celebrate the 1st-ever International Day of Women in Diplomacy at the United Nations.
The UAE was one of the major backers of a UN General Assembly resolution approved earlier this week, pronouncing 24th June as the International Day of Women in Diplomacy.
“Every day, women lead and make vital contributions to diplomatic efforts across the globe,” Ms. Lana Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for Political Affairs and Permanent Representative of the UAE to the UN remarked about the efforts by women in diplomacy.
The UAE was proud to serve as one of the main sponsors of this historic resolution, ensuring that we recognize the critical roles and perspectives women bring to diplomacy and international affairs. At home and around the world, we will continue to encourage the interests of women in foreign policy, train women diplomats, and promote women into important diplomatic roles.
The Permanent Representative of the UAE to the UN shared.
Ms. Nusseibeh further added that, “Today, women make up 43 percent of the workforce at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Here at the Permanent Mission of the UAE to the UN, we have achieved gender parity across our diplomatic delegation as we strive to find common ground in our shared efforts to maintain global peace and security. However, worldwide, there is still more work to be done. The UAE’s delegation will continue to champion women in diplomacy and throughout the UN system because we cannot achieve peace until every member of our global community is given the opportunity to participate and engage meaningfully.”
THE UN RESOLUTION
The recently endorsed UN resolution urges member states, UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, and others to observe the International Day of Women in Diplomacy every year, including through education and public awareness-raising activities.
Earlier in 2014, at the launch of UN Women’s “HeForShe” campaign, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, became the 1st foreign minister in the Arab world to sign on to the campaign.
HeForShe is a social movement that engages men and boys as advocates and agents of change to achieve gender equality.