On Campus
Female Ambassadors to the U.S. Come Together for International Women鈥檚 Day at 麻豆视频
In advance of International Women鈥檚 Day, 麻豆视频 School of Public Affairs鈥 Women & Politics Institute hosted six female ambassadors to the U.S. for a special panel discussion about the progress and challenges involving female political representation and participation around the world. WPI Executive Director Betsy Fischer Martin moderated the event.
鈥淎s we examine our own political system, it鈥檚 important to learn about other countries as well,鈥 said Fischer Martin, introducing the panelists from Albania, Kosovo, Finland, El Salvador, and New Zealand. 鈥淗ere in the U.S., we had a midterm election that resulted in a record number of women elected to Congress 鈥 127. It has been referred to as the 鈥榊ear of the Woman.鈥 Considering there are now 22 female ambassadors serving their countries here in the United States, it appears we are having a 鈥楧iplomatic Year of the Woman鈥 as well in Washington, D.C.,鈥 said Fischer Martin.
After Fischer Martin鈥檚 introduction, each of the ambassadors shared their personal experience about how far women have come in political leadership roles in their respective countries, but they also acknowledged there is much work to be done to address equal pay, domestic violence, and other critical issues of equality.
鈥淚n Albania, nearly one-third of the parliament and half of the municipalities are represented by women,鈥 said H.E. Ambassador Floreta Faber of Albania. 鈥淲omen play an important role in the decision-making and can help bring attention to critical issues, but we need to do more.鈥
When asked how Albania observes International Women鈥檚 Day, Ambassador Faber explained it is also known as Mother鈥檚 Day and that women are honored with flowers and lunches and are celebrated by their families.
However, H.E. Ambassador Vlora Citaku followed up by saying, 鈥淢any women in Kosovo take to the streets on International Women's Day with signs that read, 鈥楴o flowers, no Justice.' For my generation, becoming politically active was not a choice. It was a matter of survival. People often associate women with soft power, but let me tell you: We are tough.鈥
Kosovo was one of several countries represented at the event that have gender quotas in government. The ambassadors explained the importance retaining the visibility of women in office, especially as prime ministers and presidents.
鈥淚f we don鈥檛 see women in important posts, people don鈥檛 perceive women as important for politics,鈥 said H.E. Ambassador Karin Olofsdotter of Sweden.
Finland granted women the right to vote and run for office as early as 1906, said H.E. Ambassador Kirsti Kauppi. 鈥淲e are a small country, and we realize we have to tap the resources of the whole nation,鈥 she said. 鈥淲e can鈥檛 afford not to utilize the talent of the whole population.鈥
"Women鈥檚 participation in the civil war in El Salvador elevated their status in society," said H.E. Ambassador Claudette Ivette Canjura de Contento. "After the peace accord was signed in 1992, women moved into more positions in the political and academic spheres. Still, women have not achieved top government posts."
鈥淲e need to translate to other generations why women have to be in office,鈥 said Ambassador Canjura de Contento.
鈥淗aving women in power does make a difference in policy,鈥 said H.E. Ambassador Rosemary Banks of New Zealand. 鈥淩esearch has shown since women鈥檚 representation increased in the 1970s, there has been more attention paid to women鈥檚 health, employment, and equal pay in New Zealand.鈥
Ambassador Banks also explained that New Zealand鈥檚 current female prime minister is taking 鈥渨ell-being鈥 into account in the budgeting process, not only earning and wealth but also looking at measures of health, environment, and preserving culture.
At the conclusion of the event, Ambassador Banks said that although women are making progress in politics, 鈥淲omen face different standards and criticism in the media. I still think it鈥檚 a tilted playing field.鈥