Women and Diplomacy: Voices from the World – Female Ambassadors and Students Compared at LUMSA

The second edition of the International Roundtable “Women and Diplomacy: Voices from the World,” organized by Welcome Association Italy (WAI) under the High Patronage ofLUMSA University and the Ministry of Education, University and Research (MUR), brought together Ambassadors from four continents and over 250 students in Rome for an authentic dialogue on the challenges and values of contemporary diplomacy.

A meeting of generations and cultures

The conference, hosted in the prestigious Jubilee Hall of LUMSA University, offered a unique opportunity to reflect on the role of women in international relations, bringing diplomatic experiences and young academic voices into dialogue.

“Diplomacy is first and foremost human dialogue: it builds bridges, not walls,” said Carlo Palumbo, Deputy Secretary General of Welcome Association Italy, opening the proceedings along with Rector Prof. Francesco Bonini and journalist and researcher Andrea Carlo Martinez, moderator of the event.

The protagonists: ambassadors from around the world

Six thematic panels gave voice to diplomats from more than 20 countries, who shared stories, perspectives and challenges related to their personal and professional journeys.

Among the most significant interventions:

H.E. Mirta Granda Averhoff (Cuba) – the institutional message, read by Councilor Damián Delgado Vázquez, brought reflection on the role of women in Cuban diplomacy and commitment to gender equity in international relations.
H.E. Teresa Subieta Serrano (Bolivia at the Holy See) – unable to attend in person, wanted to share a touching video message, broadcast during the panel dedicated to Latin America, which will soon be available in full on WAI’s website.
H.E. Nogozene Bakayoko (Ivory Coast)- highlighted the importance of training and education as tools to promote women’s participation in diplomatic and decision-making processes.
H.E. Cyrille Ganou Badolo (Burkina Faso) – recalled the journey of women’s emancipation in Africa after Thomas Sankara’s revolution.
H.E. Mietani Chauke (Zimbabwe) – outlined the evolution of Africa’s female diplomatic corps and the continent’s new challenges.
H.E. Mirjana Jeremić (Serbia) – spoke about the impact of new technologies on the life and responsibility of the modern diplomat.
H.E. Elif Çomoglu Ülgen (Turkey) – gave a heartfelt and engaging keynote address, emphasizing the importance of intercultural dialogue and the role of diplomacy as an instrument of peace and cooperation.
H.E. Anne Eastwood (Principality of Monaco) – recalled the importance of multilateral cooperation for a more equitable and representative diplomacy.
H.E. Asmahan Abdulhameed Al Toqi (Yemen) -emphasized the value of cultural diplomacy as a bridge for peace in the Mediterranean.
H.E. Ligia Margarita Quessep Bitar (Colombia) – told about diplomacy as a tool for social cohesion and international solidarity.
H.E. Mónica Robelo Raffone (Nicaragua) – brought a contribution of great depth, emphasizing the role of women as protagonists of processes of dialogue and mediation in global contexts.
H.E. Nita Shala (Kosovo) – shared a vision of women’s leadership based on empathy and civic responsibility.

Students and institutions: an intergenerational dialogue

Students’ questions-carefully prepared after months of studying diplomatic profiles-resulted in authentic and intense moments of discussion, turning the conference into a true laboratory of participatory diplomacy.

Delegations from university associations such as LUISS Women in International Affairs, IRIS (International Relations Innovation & Sustainability), ASVI – Association of Vietnamese Students in Italy, European Youth Network, and representatives from the Pontifical Roman Universities took part.

Artist Karen Thomas presented the work “Hope 2025,” a symbol of women’s resilience in diplomacy, created exclusively for the event and intended to visually represent the day’s message of hope and cooperation.

Upcoming initiatives

The event marks a new step in the journey of Welcome Association Italy, which will continue to promote initiatives in social diplomacy, intercultural dialogue and youth participation.

Upcoming publications

The full video of the event will be available on the Welcome Association Italy YouTube channel.
The official Proceedings of the Conference will be published in November 2025 on the website and will include:

written contributions from the participating Ambassadors;
testimonies and reports from the student associations involved;
the interventions of the moderators and organizers.

“This edition showed that diplomacy is also a form of civic education, capable of uniting generations and cultures through listening and sharing life experiences,” concluded Carlo Palumbo, Deputy Secretary General of Welcome Association Italy.