(Adnkronos) – On the United Nations International Day of Women in Diplomacy, Italy’s foreign minister Antonio Tajani, thanked Italian women diplomats and underlined his commitment to promoting gender equality, the foreign ministry said in a statement.
“A concrete sign of progress in this direction comes from the recent appointments of the heads of mission by the Cabinet, for which the government has indicated seven women to represent our country abroad,” the statement said.
Tajani expressed praise for all women based at the foreign ministry and representing Italy in the world, saying they worked “with determination and passion, in achieving our country’s foreign policy objectives and enhancing Italy’s image in the world,” said the statement.
“Every day, Italian women diplomats demonstrate leadership, listening, mediation and innovation skills – essential qualities for facing the complex challenges of our time,” said the statement.
To mark the International Day of Women in Diplomacy, foreign ministry secretary-general Riccardo Guariglia was set to kick off a Round Table discussion of the Association of Italian Women Diplomats and Managers (DID) entitled ‘Women’s Diplomacy for Mediation and Dialogue’, the statement continued.
Foreign undersecretary Maria Tripodi was due to send a message to the roundtable underlining the importance of women’s contribution to making diplomacy increasingly inclusive and offering ever-greater prospects as a career.
Encouraging signs have emerged from the most recent examination for entering the diplomatic career, the results of which mark a historic milestone: newly hired women account for 46% of successful candidates showing a real change and progress towards more complete gender equality in diplomacy, the statement concluded.
