In recognition of the significant contribution women make to diplomacy, a ThinkEQUAL Conversations discussion on “Diplomacy and Response in Times of Crisis” was organized on 12 July within the framework of the “Women in Politics, Public Administration and Civil Society” project, in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, to celebrate the International Day of Women in Diplomacy, declared on 20 June 2022 at the 76th session of the UN General Assembly. 

The UN Resolution that was co-sponsored by Armenia invited all Member States “to observe the International Day of Women in Diplomacy annually in a manner that each considers most appropriate, including through education and public awareness-raising activities, in order to promote the full and equal participation of women at all levels of diplomacy.” 

Welcome remarks were delivered by Paruyr Hovhannisyan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, Paul Morris, Chargé d'Affaires of the UK Embassy to Armenia, and Natia Natsvlishvili, UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia. 

High-ranking diplomats both from Armenia and abroad, as well as the representatives of the Government of Armenia joined the conversation to present their perspectives on women in foreign service, crisis response, recovery and negotiations. 

Distinguished panel of speakers, moderated by Natia Natsvlishvili, UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia, included Francoise Jacob, UN Resident Coordinator in Armenia, Anahit Harutyunyan, Ambassador of Armenia to Canada (online), Lukas Rosenkranz, Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation to Armenia, Serenade Mohamed Soliman Gamil, Ambassador of Egypt to Armenia, and Maria Papamichail, Chargé d'Affaires, EU Delegation to Armenia. 

The speakers shared their experience and area expertise on the subject matter specifically focusing on the importance of inclusive and balanced diplomacy in the crisis context and beyond, as well as the specific tools and instruments available to promote women participation in peace talks and crisis response. 

UNDP “Women in Politics, Public Administration and Civil Society” project, funded by the UK Good Governance Fund, and implemented in partnership with the RA Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure and OxYGen Foundation.