The mission of the Women’s International Forum is to provide a forum for briefings and discussions on international affairs, in order to promote understanding and mutual appreciation among members of the diplomatic community, the United Nations Secretariat and the United Nations community at large. WIF’s mission is to also network, promote knowledge and raise awareness about current international issues particularly those related to the United Nations, and to uphold the purpose and the principles of the United Nations Charter.
WIF holds monthly forums and the June one was “Ambassadors’ Panel Discussion on the Issues on the Security Council Agenda by Women Ambassadors serving on the United Nations Security Council”.
The panelists were:
H.E. Ms. Samantha Power, Permanent Representative of the United States to the UN
H.E. Mrs. María Cristina Perceval,Permanent Representative of Argentina to the UN
H.E. Ms. Raimonda Murmokaitė, Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the UN
H.E. Ms. Sylvie Lucas, Permanent Representative of Luxembourg to the UN
H.E. Ms. U. Joy Ogwu, Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the UN
The moderator was H.E. Ms. Simona-Mirela Miculescu,Permanent Representative of Romania to the UN
How absolutely wonderful this was! So empowering for the audience and the speakers, all of us gathered as women – some with very important diplomatic positions, others as teachers, writers and artists. But sharing a common experience of being a woman in the early 21st century.
The Ambassadors all agreed that when they attempted to resolve an issue, it usually was achieved with compromise and understanding. More so than when the men tried.
This parallels a recent study of human beings under stress. When men feel stress there is the fight or flight response but when women feel stress they cooperate and nurture one another.
Perhaps this goes back to our earliest experiences as humans when the men where out hunting and the women were in the caves taking care of the children and dependent on each other.
In any case, we all (discretely) agreed that the more women in power positions, the better for all.
This certainly reflects what is organically arising around the world: the value of the female and the qualities that adhere to the perspective of cooperation, compassion, evolving consciousness, balance and harmony.
The above picture is of H.E. Ms. Samantha Power, Permanent Representative of the United States to the UN and Miriam after the forum.