GUYANA RECEPTION IN OBSERVANCE OF INTERNATIONAL DAY OF WOMEN IN DIPLOMACY

Your Excellency Ms. Anyin Choo, Ambassador of Guyana to China and Dean of the Lady Ambassadors Group in Beijing,

Your Excellency Mr. Martin Mpana, Ambassador of Cameroon and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps,
Excellencies, dear friends from the diplomatic corps,
Ladies and gentlemen,

What a great pleasure and honour to join you today as we mark the International Day of Women in Diplomacy!

And to be admitted, briefly, as an “honorary member” of the distinguished, powerful, potent but still too small group of leading women diplomats in China!

Thank you to the Embassy of Guyana for bringing us together for this meaningful occasion.

This day, officially observed annually on 24 June, was established by the United Nations General Assembly to recognize the vital contributions of women to diplomacy and multilateralism. 

It is fitting that we gather today to reflect on its significance and to continue the momentum it inspires.

Diplomacy sits at the heart of international cooperation. 

It builds bridges, fosters trust and opens pathways to peace and sustainable development. 

Yet, despite progress, women remain underrepresented in diplomatic leadership around the world. 

Closing this gap is not only a question of fairness, but essential to the effectiveness of diplomacy itself.

Over the course of my work in multiple countries, I have had the privilege of engaging with and working to many outstanding women diplomats: SRSG Karin Landgren (to whom I was Chief of Staff), Amb. Elizabeth Cousens (I was her deputy in a a think tank, early in both our careers), SRSG Elizabeth Spehar and several others.

More recently, serving in Kenya as Resident Coordinator, I was the only man in the senior UN leadership team in Nairobi, alongside HE Zainab Bangura, HE Inger Andersen and HE Anaclaudia Rossbach as global heads of UNON, UNEP and UN Habitat respectively!

And I also had the privilege of coming to know well HE GUO Haiyan, China’s Ambassador to Kenya.

I recall my work in supporting them and working with all of these different distinguished women as amongst the highlights of my career. 

I have seen firsthand how women’s leadership strengthens dialogue, builds trust across cultures and advances solutions in even the most complex contexts. 

Whether negotiating agreements, promoting development partnerships, or representing their countries with distinction, these women have demonstrated resilience, professionalism, and vision. 

Their contributions have not only enriched diplomacy, but have also inspired the next generation to follow in their footsteps.

Today’s gathering, held in recognition of this important international day, is not only a celebration of achievements, but also a call to action. 

It is a call to remove barriers, to expand opportunities and to support the next generation of women leaders in diplomacy.

Here in China, and across the international community represented in Beijing, we have a unique opportunity and responsibility to advance this agenda. 

As UN Resident Coordinator in China, I see firsthand the value of partnership, across governments, diplomatic missions and institutions, in advancing shared goals.

Promoting women’s leadership in diplomacy must be part of these efforts. 

It is about not only opening doors, but also ensuring that women have the space and support to lead, to influence and to shape global priorities.

And it’s one reason I am proud to note the remarkable progress in promoting women’s leadership within the UN itself that our most recent two Secretary-General’s have made.

In my own cohort of UN Resident Coordinators globally, for example, for some years now the balance has tipped in favour of women, with more than 60 RC women worldwide, or between 52 and 56% of the total.

Of the Under-Secretaries-General serving currently at New York HQ, 43% are women, leaving still some room to improve, but the gap is narrowing yearly.

And many of us are, of course, holding our breath and crossing our fingers to see if the selection process currently underway will finally deliver us the first women UN Secretary-General. 

We also recognize and celebrate the many women diplomats, past and present, who have paved the way. 

If you have never read it, I recommend a look at “Never Learn to Type: A Woman at the United Nations”.

It’s the autobiography of the redoubtable Dame Margaret Anstee, a pioneering British diplomat who rose to become the first woman to reach the powerful position of Under Secretary-General at the United Nations – the first indeed, to head a peacekeeping mission (in 1992).

Their dedication, courage, and leadership have strengthened multilateralism and brought us closer to a more peaceful and inclusive world.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

Let us continue to work together to ensure that diplomacy reflects the diversity of the world it serves, that women are not only present at the table, but are actively shaping the agenda.

In closing, allow me to once again thank the Embassy of Guyana for hosting this important reception. Let us reaffirm our shared commitment to advancing gender equality in diplomacy and beyond.

Together, let us build a future that is more inclusive, more equitable, and more peaceful.

Thank you.