Lithuanian Ambassador participated in the "Women in Diplomacy" event at the University of Pretoria
On March 7, Lithuanian Ambassador H E Ms Rasa Jankauskaite participated in the “Women in Diplomacy” event organized by the University of Pretoria. The discussion was also attended by Mexican Ambassador to South Africa H E Ms Sara Valdes Balaño and Ms Mutsa Mugangavari, Deputy Head of the Regional Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in South Africa. The event was moderated by Sven Botha, Lecturer in the Department of Political Science at the University of Pretoria.
The panelists shared their personal experiences, spoke about professional choices and career planning in diplomacy, challenges and the role of women in international relations. Ambassador Rasa Jankauskaite, who has gained experience working in various countries, such as the United Kingdom, Spain, China and South Africa, emphasized the importance of networking, cultural understanding and the ability to adapt to a dynamic international environment in diplomacy.
Questions why women still only make up 23.56% of heads of diplomatic missions worldwide and how countries and international organizations can promote greater female participation in diplomacy were also addressed in the discussion. Participants also debated about the role of non-state players in achieving more inclusive diplomacy and shared advice for female students considering a career in this field.
The event attracted great interest among students and the academic community, and the lively discussion and question-answer session highlighted the growing interest of young people in diplomatic career and gender equality issues in international relations.
