On May 27, the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine hosted the event “Big Conversation on Women in Diplomacy” – a public discussion within the framework of the publishing project “The Female Face of Diplomacy / Woman in Diplomacy: Challenge or Mission?”.
The event became a professional platform for discussing the transformation of the role of women in modern diplomacy, their contribution to strengthening Ukraine’s international subjectivity, establishing gender equality in the diplomatic service, women’s leadership in wartime, as well as the development of public and cultural diplomacy as instruments of international support for Ukraine.
The project was launched in 2024 by the Scientific Society for the History of Diplomacy and International Relations, Professor Iryna Matyash, together with the Association of Spouses of Ukrainian Diplomats headed by Tetyana Sybiha, with the assistance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the support of the Hanns Seidel Foundation in Ukraine.
The event was attended by career diplomats, representatives of the public sector, civil society, scientific and cultural communities, spouses of Ukrainian diplomats and students. Among the speakers were Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mariana Betsa, Head and Co-Founder of the Association of Spouses of Ukrainian Diplomats Tetyana Sybiha, Director of the Directorate General for Public Diplomacy and Strategic Communications of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Viktoria Lialina-Boiko, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Montenegro to Ukraine Borjanka Simičević, Head of the Scientific Society for the History of Diplomacy and International Relations Iryna Matyash, Journalist and Writer Myroslava Makarevich, Doctor of Historical Sciences Maryna Hrymych and Head of the NGO “Liatoshynsky Foundation” Tetyana Gomon.
Public figure, President of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America Natalia Pavlenko and President of the World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations Yaroslava Khortyani joined the event online. The participants were also addressed in a video format by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Croatia to Ukraine, Anica Džamić. The discussion was moderated by the Director of the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine Ihor Ostash.
In his welcoming speech, Ihor Ostash emphasized that Ukrainian women have historically been powerful voices of the state even when Ukraine did not have its own official institutions and recognized borders. Recalling the figures of Milena Rudnycka and Sofia Yablonska as examples of historical women’s diplomacy and cultural advocacy of Ukraine in the world, the Director of the Academy noted:
“When they tried to describe us with foreign, imperial words and make us “invisible”, there were people who stubbornly spoke about Ukraine on their own behalf. And very often these people, these voices were women. Without diplomatic ranks, without official mandates, but with a clear understanding that the fight for Ukraine is always a fight for its presence in the world consciousness”.
Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa emphasized in her speech that female leadership in diplomacy has long gone beyond the humanitarian sphere and today Ukrainian diplomats work in the most complex international areas – from sanctions policy to negotiations on Ukraine’s membership in the EU and NATO.
“Ukrainian women, including diplomats, military personnel, volunteers, and human rights activists, have proven that they are capable of being not only a symbol of resilience, but also a driving force for diplomacy, security, and peace. The active activities and initiatives of the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, are a vivid example and a significant contribution to the socio-political life of the state, strengthening international support for Ukraine, and strengthening Ukraine’s voice in the world. It is important that Ukraine consistently implements the provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 “Women, Peace and Security”, affirming the principle of equal participation of women in decision-making processes, international security, and peacebuilding. For the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and personally Minister Andrii Sybiha, one of the priorities is to ensure gender equality in the system of diplomatic service bodies as a component of European and strong diplomacy, which our ministry systematically and successfully implements in practice”, the Deputy Foreign Minister emphasized.
The head and co-founder of the Association of Spouses of Ukrainian Diplomats, Tetyana Sybiha, emphasized the important role of the Association in the modern diplomatic service, the activities of which go far beyond protocol or representative functions. This is, first of all, a full-fledged platform for supporting Ukrainian diplomacy and Ukrainians who have suffered as a result of Russian aggression, through the implementation of cultural, humanitarian and charitable initiatives in different countries of the world.
“The Association was founded in 2021 as an initiative of a group of proactive ambassadors’ wives after the Annual Ambassadors’ Conference, to which for the first time since the restoration of Ukraine’s independence, ambassadors’ spouses were invited to participate at the initiative of the First Lady of Ukraine, Mrs. Olena Zelenska. Given the specifics of the diplomatic service (like in no other profession): diplomats’ spouses are maximally involved in serving the state mission, being on long-term foreign missions for a period of 4-5 years, depending on the duration of the term. Therefore, mutual support, exchange of experience and best practices are the basis for preparing for such missions and the successful work of diplomats. Over the 5 years of its activity, the Association has formed a clearly organized management and self-organization structure – it carries out activities within the framework of humanitarian, educational and charitable projects, coordinating work with diplomats, scientists, and public organizations”, Tetyana Sybiha noted.
A separate part of the program was the presentation of the initiative “Archive Cinema for Diplomats”, which was presented by the Director of the Central State Audiovisual and Electronic Archive Tetyana Yemelyanova.
The event also included the presentation of honorary awards from the Scientific Society for the History of Diplomacy and International Relations to the participants of the project “The Female Face of Diplomacy / Woman in Diplomacy: Challenge or Mission?”.
The event was another confirmation that female leadership today is an important component of Ukraine’s international subjectivity, and Ukrainian diplomats, diplomats’ spouses, public figures, scientists and cultural ambassadors are not only a symbol of resilience, but also active participants in the formation of an international coalition to support Ukraine, develop public diplomacy and strengthen European security.