24th June, 2025
International Day of Women in Diplomacy

On June 24, the world marks the International Day of Women in Diplomacy — a day that is more than just symbolic.

 

It is a vital reminder that global dialogue and decision-making can only be sustainable when women have an equal seat at the table.

 

© UN
Bridging the Gap Between Rights and Reality

Although gender equality is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, true parity in diplomacy remains far off. Currently, only about 21% of ambassadors worldwide are women.

 

Fewer than 30 countries are led by female heads of state or government. This gap is not just a matter of representation; it has real consequences.

 

Studies show that peace agreements involving women are 35% more likely to last at least 15 years. Yet, too often, women’s voices remain on the margins of negotiations where their communities’ futures are decided.

© UN Photo
Women in Conflict: Bearing the Brunt, Leading the Response

In today’s world, where conflict and crises are escalating, women and girls continue to pay a devastating price.

 

Over 600 million women and girls currently live in conflict-affected areas — an increase of 50% in just the last decade.

 

They face heightened risks of violence, food insecurity, and displacement. Tragically, conflict-related sexual violence has risen by 50% in recent years.

 

© UN Photo/Eric Kanalstein

Yet, amid these hardships, women are not merely victims.

 

In war zones from Gaza to Sudan to Mali, women often lead community responses, deliver essential health care, and organize humanitarian aid — even while being excluded from formal peace talks.

© UN Photo/Kari Berggrav
Moving From Words to Action

Closing the gender gap in diplomacy demands more than promises.

 

It requires binding targets for equal participation in negotiations, structural reforms in foreign services to support women’s careers, and greater funding for women-led organizations, especially in crisis zones.

 

It also means zero tolerance for gender-based violence and discrimination in diplomatic spaces.

© UN Photo/MB
A Collective Responsibility

As we look ahead, the message of the International Day of Women in Diplomacy is clear: There can be no lasting peace, sustainable development, or fair international cooperation without the full and equal participation of women.

 

The global community has pledged under the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals to achieve gender equality by 2030 — but at the current pace, true parity in politics and diplomacy could take decades longer.

© © Aenne Mueller Photography

“Now more than ever, we need to champion women’s voices in all corridors of power, from local peace committees to the United Nations Security Council. Only then can diplomacy live up to its promise: to build bridges, resolve conflicts, and shape a better, more inclusive world for generations to come,” says Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff

Yours

 

sincerely