Why it Matters




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The World Forum




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Strategic Objectives




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Focus Areas




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Commitment




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we celebrate the achievements of women in diplomacy: whether they represent their countries in diplomatic missions, working in inter-governmental organizations, teaching at universities to prepare the future generation of diplomats, or the female youth who are pursuing their studies or just graduated from political science and international relations faculties.



HRH Princess Dr. Nisreen El-Hashemite

RASIT's Executive Director



24 June 2023, International Day of Women in Diplomacy, UHHQ



Why Women Matter in Diplomacy ..?



Women are still underrepresented in diplomacy, foreign policy, and public policy, particularly in senior positions. This is despite a proliferation of networks advocating for women across sectors, purported support by numerous governments for increasing women’s representation in negotiations and research illustrating the benefits of including women in negotiations.



WOMEN IN DIPLOMACY WORLD FORUM



The Women in Diplomacy World Forum is established by HRH Princess Dr. Nisreen El-Hashemite – RASIT’s Executive Director, to help address this issue, understand what obstacles remain and how it can be overcome. The Forum also aims to create better access to and accelerate women’s representation in international organizations, share knowledge and tools to effectively do so and support structural change.



RASIT defines Science as all-encompassing knowledge based on scholarship and research undertaken in the natural and social disciplines, including the arts and humanities, which is underpinned by methodologies that build up and test increased understanding about our world and beyond.



THE FORUM STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES



  • To address the issue of women’s underrepresentation in diplomacy and foreign policy, particularly in senior positions:

​ The Forum aims to help address the issue of misrepresentation / underrepresentation of women in the field, by understanding the obstacles to representation and how they can be overcome. In so doing, it will acknowledge the higher barriers facing women from ethnic minority, non-elite, other minority backgrounds, and disabled inclusion.


The Forum hopes to accelerate women’s representation in international organizations and national diplomatic services, by sharing knowledge and tools to effectively do so, and supporting structural change.


  • To address the lack of gender considerations in foreign policy and policy making:

The Forum further investigates, at both academic and practitioner levels, how policy-making processes can be utilized or reformed so as to produce more gender-sensitive policy outcomes. It will seek to understand the systemic and structural changes that may be required at the policy design and implementation level, with a view of developing a practical guidance on gender mainstreaming and gender-responsiveness in foreign policy.


  • To empower women in science experts and professionals in Diplomacy as important agents to further Socio-Economic Equitable and Inclusive Sustainable Development:

The Forum will promote and strengthen the engagement of women in science to support their peers in diplomacy as fundamental agents for peace and multilateralism, herewith referring to the Outcome Documents of the 5th and 7th International Day of Women and Girls in Science Assemblies held in UNHQ and endorsed by Member States and Intergovernmental organizations. More specifically:

- “Calls upon Member States to increase the participation of women in science in diplomatic missions, and at decision-making levels in diplomacy and foreign policy”, (2020)

- “Encourage Member States to increase the full, equal and meaningful participation of all women in science in decision-making at all levels in public sector, including in diplomacy and foreign policy” (2022)


Following the adoption of the UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/70/212 on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science in 2015, RASIT continues to work with UN Member States, the UN and Inter-Governmental Organizations to contribute to the achievement of equality in all fields of sciences, for socio-economic sustainable development, in line with the UN 2030 Agenda and its SDGs.




It is noteworthy that diplomacy, like science, is driven by a desire to tackle real world challenges such as climate change and inequality. Therefore, the Forum will highlight on how women diplomats can innovate and lead policy solutions that can help create more sustainable, prosperous, peaceful, and equal societies.



FOCUS AREAS



​The Women in Diplomacy World Forum will leverage the convening power of RASIT to bring together scholars, youth, diplomats and activists to discuss ways to increase women’s representation in diplomacy and to foster greater consideration of gender issues in diplomacy and foreign policymaking.
More specifically, it will:Highlight the critical role of diplomacy in decision-making by focusing on the importance of expert and professional women in diplomatic negotiations.
Address the challenges and obstacles experienced by women in diplomacy, especially by young women, to highlight the most relevant solutions for future leaders.
Bring together experts, scholars, practitioners to advance knowledge, practical solutions, and understanding/outlook.
Develop research, academic knowledge, and practice/strategy on issues relating to women representation and leadership across diplomacy, international affairs, and foreign policy.
Zoom in on women in diplomacy and discussing building capacity.
Recognize the interplay and interdependency between science, technology, and diplomacy Identify conditions and propose tools to put science, technology, and innovation at the heart of diplomacy.
Showcase the need to integrate understanding of social aspects and cultural dimensions in diplomacy especially with capacity development.
Build partnerships with the United Nations departments, agencies, and Member States, and organizations working on similar issues to further promote practical solutions.


RASIT'S COMMITMENT



RASIT will continue its tradition and support to member states to develop gender agenda and framework action plans particularly in their foreign policy and when training and recruiting women to diplomatic posts. RASIT will also continue supporting member states to include women in science in their diplomatic missions.


The Women in Diplomacy World Forum will further advocate for the role of women diplomats in Breaking Barriers, re-Shaping the Future of achieving the three pillars of sustainable development, namely economic prosperity, social justice, and environmental integrity.



Royal Academy of Science International Trust



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