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Conference: Women in Diplomacy

Conference: Women in Diplomacy

9th November 2022, Congress Hall of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic
Barbora Legényová Ivana Uličná
Date: 09.11.2022, 09:00
Place: Congress Hall of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic

The conference will provide a space for evaluating progress in inclusion and diversity in Slovak diplomacy. It will map sociocultural, economic, and institutional barriers, analyse their impact on the current position of women and propose practical solutions for increasing inclusion and diversity in this area.

The conference will also send an important message regarding the need for inclusion and diversity in state institutions, and we believe it will become an example for other Slovak actors.

The conference is organised by the SFPA in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic.

The conference will be held in the Slovak language. Simultaneous translation into English will be provided.

To participate in the conference, please fill in the registration form by 7th November 2022.

Programme of the conference:

9:00
Welcome
Tomáš Strážay, Director of SFPA
9:05 – 9:15
Introductory remarks
Zuzana Čaputová, President of the Slovak Republic (videorecording)
Ingrid Brocková, State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic
9:15 – 10:30
Historical role of women and the development of the socio-cultural narrative in the field of Slovak foreign policy and diplomacy
To understand the current position of women in Slovak foreign policy and diplomacy, we need to look back to the past. In this section, we will reconstruct the contribution of female actors across time against the backdrop of changing political establishments. Here we will present a comprehensive historical narrative about the role of women in Slovak foreign policy and diplomacy. Considering the socio-cultural and regional contexts, this section will provide a starting point for understanding the unfinished story of women’s political emancipation, current developments, and needs. At the same time, we will appreciate the important historic contribution of women – writers, activists, advisers, and experts.

Host
Magda Vášáryová, Chairwoman, Živena

Speakers
Alena Bučeková, Deputy Chairwoman, Živena
Marta Dobrotková, Professor, University of Trnava
10:30 – 10:50
Coffee break
10:50 – 12:00
Representation and position of women in foreign policy and diplomacy today
International research shows that while the representation of women in foreign policy and diplomacy is increasing, the authority of women or the nature of their diplomatic service is not progressing at the same pace. How is it in Slovakia? We currently have a legislative setup that enables equality and inclusion in the workplace. In this panel, we will analyse how social and cultural barriers affect the position of women in foreign policy today. Is the equality of opportunity manifested also in diplomatic missions to the so-called “high-status countries”? The panellists’ task will be to further analyse the economic and institutional barriers women face in foreign policy and diplomacy today. What does it look like in our neighbourhood? Which countries can be an inspiration for us? And which countries can draw an inspiration from us? 

Host
Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová

Speakers
Ingrid Brocková, State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic 
Magda Vášáryová, Former Ambassador and State Secretary
Gabriel Bianchi, Deputy Director, Slovak Academy of Sciences
12:00 – 13:30
Lunch
13:30 – 14:30
Talent management in diplomacy: from education to career advancement
When reflecting on the status of women in foreign policy and diplomacy, it is essential to examine whether young women have access to opportunities and experiences that can lead to later success. Attempts to explain the current state focus mainly on issues related to balancing family and professional life. However, the problem is already rooted in the level of education and at the beginning of young women’s careers, long before family life even begins to play a significant role. Research has confirmed that processes favour men when recruiting young talent to state diplomatic institutions. There is also a difference in the roles assigned to women and men at the beginning of their careers, even if they are in the same positions. What do young women and female diplomats see as barriers to entry and career advancement in foreign policy and diplomacy? What trends prevail in the corporate environment and what can serve as an inspiration for diplomatic institutions? The panel will also analyse how this problem can be addressed at the level of educational institutions.

Host
Martin Kováčik, Head of the Print and Digital Agenda Department, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic

Speakers
Katarína Králiková, Director of the Communication Department, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic
Ivana Molnárová, CEO, Profesia
Ivana Uličná,
Senior Expert, SFPA 
14:30 – 14:45
Coffee break
14:45 – 15:45
Recommendations for increasing inclusion and diversity in Slovak diplomacy
This section will present and analyze ways to promote inclusion and diversity in foreign policy and diplomacy. We will look at how it was possible to effectively achieve results in this direction, e.g. in Norway, Albania or France. We will see that countries that have made progress in this area owe it to targeted measures. Why is gender sensitivity in the language essential, and how to cultivate the Slovak space in this direction? Mandatory quotas are the most controversial solution, but at the same time, we must take into account the fact that they arose precisely because of the resistance of institutions to ensure inclusion and diversity in other ways. How is the situation in Slovakia? What are gender audits, and how to execute them so that they are not reduced to ticking boxes? The panellists will also discuss how to create an inclusive environment in Slovak diplomacy and how individuals and collectives can actively participate in removing obstacles in this area.

Host
Katarína Strýčková, V Ženskom rode, Denník N

Speakers
Denisa Frelichová, Director General of the Minister’s Section and Coordinator for Equal Opportunities, Diversity, and Inclusion, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic
Ivan Novotný, Lawyer, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic
Lucia Yar, Expert, Euractiv
15:45 – 16:15
Interview with the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic
Host
Zuzana Kovačič Hanzelová

Rastislav Káčer, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic
16:15
Concluding remarks and glass of wine
Denisa Frelichová, Director General of the Minister’s Section and Coordinator for Equal Opportunities, Diversity, and Inclusion, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic

The Women in Diplomacy project is funded by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic.