On the occasion of International Women’s Day, my thoughts go out to all the women of the Foreign Ministry, in Rome and abroad, who contribute every day to the fulfilment of our mission with enthusiasm, dedication and passion.
Especially over the last very difficult year, so deeply marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, I wish to emphasise, and rightly so, the importance of this celebration for all those, without distinction, who recognise themselves in our shared heritage of values. A heritage that allows us to progress towards a more balanced, harmonious society, respectful of diversity and merit, and ultimately more just and inclusive.
The Foreign Ministry is constantly committed to pursuing the goals of equal opportunities and gender equality. These are key aspects of the modernity and efficiency of the actions undertaken by the Ministry, and by Government in general, and, at the same time, serve as the inspiring principles of our actions internationally. They represent our core objectives and, today, a specific priority of the Italian G20 Presidency and of our three-year mandate at the UN Human Rights Council.
These are goals that the Foreign Ministry supports wholeheartedly and which we actively promote on the ground – even in the remotest and most crisis-stricken areas – through numerous development cooperation programmes. They are concrete tools in the fight against all forms of violence and discrimination against women and for the benefit of real gender equality and female empowerment.
The pandemic emergency, which has obliged us to redefine our relational and working methods, has highlighted the importance of the work-life balance issue. This has prompted us to intensify our commitment to rooting out all forms of discrimination, strengthening the protection of parenthood, and promoting a constant improvement in our working methods.
This year’s International Women’s Day, therefore, seems to me to be the best occasion to celebrate the contribution to our action by the female members of our Ministry, but above all to reflect and reason together, men and women, on how we can achieve these objectives, according to a constructive and innovative perspective, as a means to guide and encourage change.
Happy International Women’s Day to all the women of the Foreign Ministry!
Happy International Women’s Day to all women!
