By Manal Abdel Fattah
Today, the Mexican Embassy in Cairo organized a celebration on the occasion of International Women’s Day and Egyptian Women’s Day, to distribute the “Pioneers of Change” awards for the fourth year in a row, in cooperation with the embassies of Canada and Sweden, as well as the Czech Republic, France and Germany.
In her speech, Ambassador Leonora Rueda, Mexican Ambassador to Cairo, said: It is a great honor for us to warmly welcome you today to the official headquarters of Mexico in Cairo, and here we celebrate International Women’s Day and Egyptian Women’s Day for the fourth year in a row with our friends from Canada and Sweden, and this year, We welcome the Czech Republic, France and Germany to join.
She added: Today, we are here to honor Egyptian heroines of change. In diplomacy, the synergy between our voices is vital, especially among countries that have adopted a feminist foreign policy. So today, we honor the exceptional women of Egypt whose dedication, courage and resilience pave the way for progress and change, starting with development. and business to aspiring students, female policy makers, and beyond.
The ambassador continued: The theme of today’s celebration, “Inspiring Inclusion,” resonates deeply with the values that our country and Egypt hold dear. Inclusion is not only limited to recognizing differences, but rather means embracing diversity, ensuring that every voice is heard, every talent appreciated, and every opportunity available.
She added: As we reflect on the progress we have made and the challenges that remain, it is crucial that we take into account the representation of women in leadership positions, as only six countries around the world have been able to achieve the achievement of having 50 percent or more women in leadership positions. unicameral parliaments or the House of Representatives; Mexico and Sweden are among those countries.
She added: This statistic serves as a reminder of the steps we have taken towards gender equality in political participation while highlighting the continued need for concerted efforts to ensure that women have a place in decision-making processes, not only in parliamentary representation but in leadership in other areas such as corporate boards. Or academia
As we celebrate our achievements, we must also acknowledge the challenges ahead.
The ambassador continued: With determination and determination, we must face these challenges head-on, knowing that the journey towards gender equality requires continuous effort and collective work.
The Ambassador said that Mexico’s feminist foreign policy was distinguished by its leadership in promoting a gender perspective and a human rights approach in its bilateral and regional agendas, as well as in multilateral negotiations. In addition, it has established mechanisms and protocols for the care of victims of sexual violence as part of its work in the field of consular protection for Mexican women abroad.
She explained that with regard to innovation and technology for gender equality, Mexico supports an agenda that includes digital education, eliminating the digital gender gap and digital gender violence, and increasing the participation of women and girls in STEM professions.
All participating embassies agreed to continue calling for increased representation of women in leadership positions in all sectors, knowing that inclusion is not just a buzzword, but rather a catalyst for innovation and progress.
The “Pioneers of Change” awards were launched in 2020, to honor the contributions of Egyptian gender equality pioneers and their efforts in building a stronger Egypt. The award ceremony is held in conjunction with the celebration of International Women’s Day and Egyptian Women’s Day, and this year’s slogan is “Inspiring Inclusion.”
Louis Dumas, Ambassador of Canada to Cairo, Ivan Yukl, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Cairo, Raphael Martin de Lagarde, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of France in Cairo, Frank Hartmann, Ambassador of Germany to Cairo, Leonora Rueda, Ambassador of Mexico to Cairo, and Hakan Emsgaard, Ambassador of Sweden to Cairo, celebrated. Highlights of the social, economic and political achievements of distinguished Egyptian women, as each of these six countries is long-standing advocates of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
