Women in diplomacy

RIYADH: Saturday, June 24, marked the International Day for Women in Diplomacy. We can all think of women who have made their mark internationally — political leaders such as Margaret Thatcher, international advocates like Malala Yousafzai, and senior diplomats such as Eleanor Roosevelt and Saudi Arabia’s own Princess Reema bint Bandar Al-Saud, ambassador to the US. 

The global average share of women in ministerial positions nearly doubled between 2006 and 2022 to 16.1 percent. The share of women in national parliamentarian positions also rose from 11 percent in 1995 to 26.5 percent. But the journey has not been straightforward. Each country has its own path, and for many, the opportunities are still only just opening up. 

As recently as 1973, women who joined the UK Foreign Office had to leave when they got married. Now, women hold five of our top diplomatic jobs: Karen Pierce in the US, Menna Rawlings in Paris, Caroline Wilson in Beijing, Barbara Woodward for the UN in New York and Deborah Bronnert in Moscow. 

Research shows that when women are part of diplomacy, policies are created that are better for ordinary people, the environment and social cohesion.

Anna Walters

In Saudi Arabia, it has been a legal requirement since 2013 that at least 20 percent of the seats in the Shoura Council are held by women. The Kingdom now has a woman as the head of its Human Rights Commission. It also has five female ambassadors and several female deputy, assistant and vice ministers across a number of ministries from foreign affairs to sport. The economic participation rate of women in Saudi Arabia is reported to be 36 percent, far greater than that of neighboring countries, including Jordan and Egypt. 

There are huge benefits to increasing the number of women in diplomacy. Research shows that when women are part of diplomacy, policies are created that are better for ordinary people, the environment and social cohesion. Women’s leadership styles, expertise and priorities broaden the scope of issues under consideration and the quality of outcomes. For example, the representation of women in peace negotiations has been shown to improve the durability of peace agreements after civil wars. 

However, it is not just about women entering the workplace; we must ensure they can progress. Many factors can impede women’s diplomacy careers, including a lack of female role models and mentors, limited childcare options, and restrictions on flexible working. The Saudi Qurrah program, which supports access to pre-school childcare, is an excellent example of practical steps that can be taken to help women in the workforce. The Foreign Office is piloting a number of measures, including job-sharing for overseas postings, to allow couples to both progress their diplomatic careers while caring for their young families. 

On Women in Diplomacy Day, we welcome these measures, celebrate the success of women so far, and look forward to the potential of those yet to come and make their mark in the world of diplomacy. 

• Anna Walters is the UK’s Deputy Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, responsible for promoting relations between the UK and Saudi Arabia and supporting British interests in the Kingdom.