Ahead of the International Day of Women in Multilateralism, the Council of Europe marked the occasion with an event organised by the Informal Network of Women Deputies of Permanent Representations and the Luxembourg Presidency of the Committee of Ministers.
The gathering tackled pressing issues of gender equality, multilateralism, and equal opportunities for women-cornerstones of the Council of Europe's mandate.
Patrick Engelberg, Luxembourg's Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe, underscored the urgency of starting change close to home. "Promoting living together is a priority of our Presidency," he emphasised. Reflecting on his career in Brussels, he noted how a growing number of women in diplomatic roles had transformed the dynamics. "The tone changed, male rivalry diminished, and sensitive issues were addressed with greater openness," Engelberg observed.
Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge sounded a rallying call, acknowledging the dual challenges of multilateralism under siege and the persistent gender gap. Highlighting the shortfall in women's representation during the 2024 global election year, he vowed to lead by example. "I pledge not to participate in male-only panels-a small but important step toward inclusivity," Berge stated.
The panel discussion that followed featured insights from leaders including:
- Marialena Tsirli, Registrar of the European Court of Human Rights
- Gunn Jorid Roset, Acting Director General, Multilateral Department, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Anne Goedert, Ambassador-at-Large for Human Rights, Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs
- Begoña Lasagabaster, UNESCO's Director for Gender Equality (via pre-recorded message).
The event underlined the transformative power of women's voices in shaping multilateral dialogue and advancing equality-a vital step toward the Council's vision of a more balanced, peaceful and inclusive future.
