Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid has participated in a panel discussion to commemorate the International Day of Women in Diplomacy.

The Maldivian foreign minister participated in the panel discussion as part of his ongoing visit to Washington DC and New York, on Tuesday.

FM Shahid spoke regarding the Maldivian government’s decision to pursue the initiative as well as its national experiences in empowering women in foreign services, at the commemorative event held to mark the International Women in Diplomacy Day.

He stressed that it would take 140 years for women to achieve equal representation in leadership positions, at the current rate of progress.

Shedding light on his experiences in achieving gender parity within the foreign ministry, FM Shahid called on other leaders to achieve gender parity within their place of work.

He went on to reaffirm the Maldivian government’s commitment to achieve gender parity in all sectors.

A diplomat from the Republic of Rwanda and Youth Fellow in the Office of the President of the General Assembly, Nathalie Gasaro moderated the panel discussion.

FM Shahid was accompanied by Permanent Representative of US Linda Thomas-Greenfield and Executive Director of UN Women, Sima Bahous.

The delegation from Maldives put forth the International Day of Women in Diplomacy resolution and adopted during the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

With 85 member states as main sponsors, the resolution was co-sponsored by 191 delegations.

The commemorative event statement was delivered by Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the UN Thilmeeza Hussein and President of the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Csaba Kőrösi.

Interactive discussions were held on the “Current Challenges and Policy Interventions to achieve women diplomats’ full participation in decision-making spaces” were held with participation from the Permanent Representative of Cambodia to the UN Sophea Eat, Permanent Representative of Liberia to the UN Sarah Safyn Fyneah and the President and CEO of Present and Future Institute, Keisha McGuire.

Permanent Representative of Saint Lucia to the UN Menissa Rambally and the President-elect of the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly Ambassador Dennis Francis delivered closing statements.