Thank you for the opportunity to address you today on the subject of women in diplomacy. I would also like to touch on the concrete measures taken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to promote gender equality in this field.

Let me begin by recalling the powerful words of former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright: "It took me a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I will not be silent." She came from Czechoslovakia and this quote captures the essence of why we are here today.

Diplomacy is a demanding field by its very nature. It requires intellect, social intelligence, and resilience. Women possess all these qualities—and more. Their voices must be heard. Today's diplomacy is shaped by the contributions of both men and women, each bringing invaluable perspectives to the table.

Women diplomats bring more than their expertise, skills, and knowledge. They bring unique points of view, often shaped by different life experiences. Their perspectives are essential in negotiations, peacebuilding, and representation.

I often remind my colleagues: “Diplomats speak so that soldiers don’t have to.” This underscores the importance of diplomacy as a preventive tool. It also highlights the courage of women diplomats who stand at the forefront of international relations.

Within Czech diplomacy, we are proud of the many strong, inspiring women who represent our country with determination. Though each of them follows a unique path and faces specific challenges, together they make an invaluable contribution to our foreign policy.

At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we take gender equality seriously. It is a core part of our mission.

Czechia is a member of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. We are also active in the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

In 2024, on behalf of the Ministry, I co-signed the Charter against Domestic Violence. By taking this step, we have joined international efforts to protect victims and prevent violence. We sent a clear message that domestic violence has no place in our society.

Ladies and gentlemen,

As Foreign Minister, I have consistently supported steps to improve the gender balance in diplomacy. Currently, almost 50% of our Ministry's employees are women. 37% of the supervisor positions are held by women. Today, four women serve in the position of Director-General at the Ministry. The chief director of Czech Centres and the director of Diplomatic Academy are also women.

To continue, I am also pleased that Forbes magazine has named four Czech diplomats among the 100 most influential women in Czechia.

Of course, there is still room for improvement. In the future, for example, I can imagine more women at the head of embassies.

Promoting measures that help to improve the work-life balance is one of the means to achieve this.

We have our own kindergarten at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is called Zamiňáček, which means something like “little Diplomat.”

For the children of employees sent abroad on duty, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs covers school-related expenses.

According to our career regulations, the period of foreign service also includes the period of parental leave. Women mothers thus have a fairer chance when applying for diplomatic positions.

Another new thing that we have introduced is that our employees can work from home three times a month. This gives them greater flexibility.

In today’s uncertain world, taking care of our mental health has never been more important. Our Ministry has had a psychologist since 2015, but the pressures of recent years have shown that this is no longer enough. That’s why we’re creating a new support system – one that offers psycho-social care not just for our staff, but also for their families, including the children who often carry the quiet weight of diplomatic life.

In addition to internal measures, we also seek to promote the work and achievements of our women diplomats to the outside world. The Ministry’s Communications Department regularly highlights their achievements on social media and organises the ongoing series of events “Women (Not Only) in Diplomacy.” 

Launched just a year ago, these events have already become meaningful platforms for dialogue and inspiration. So far 15 videos have been published. There have been 7 discussions with women diplomats with the public. Two more discussions with our Chief Directors will take place in the near future.

Through these activities, we empower future women diplomats. We are also helping the public to better understand diplomatic life.

Finally, I would like to thank the Ambassador of Romania for organising this event. It is through gatherings like this that we continue to promote dialogue, understanding, and gender equality in diplomacy.

Thank you.