Women and Diplomacy: dialogue continues with the Embassy of Yemen
The path of institutional dialogue started with the International Conference “Women and Diplomacy: Voices from the World,” promoted by Welcome Association Italy and hosted last October at LUMSA University in Rome, continues. On January 29, 2026, this path found a new and significant stage with the official meeting at theEmbassy of the Republic of Yemen in Rome, dedicated to the delivery of the Proceedings of the Conference.
A meeting that gives continuity to the Convention
The meeting was a concrete follow-up to the conference, confirming the desire to transform the academic discussion into an ongoing institutional dialogue, capable of involving embassies, associations and new generations.
Alongside representatives of the Embassy, students from Welcome Association Italy’s partner student and youth associations took part in the meeting and actively intervened in the dialogue:
- International Networking Association
- Students Diplomatic Association (LUSDA)
- International Relations Innovation and Sustainability
- European Youth Network
Their participation reinforced the value of the meeting as a space for intergenerational dialogue, where young people contribute directly to the reflection on issues of diplomacy and international cooperation.
The profile of Ambassador H.E. Asmahan Abdulhameed Al Toqi
A central figure in the journey initiated with “Women and Diplomacy: Voices from the World” is H.E. Asmahan Abdulhameed Al Toqi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Yemen to the Republic of Italy.
Joining the Yemeni Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2002, H.E. Al Toqi has held the post of Ambassador to Italy since 2016 and is also accredited to San Marino, Greece, Serbia and Albania. She also represents Yemen at the Rome-based United Nations Agencies (FAO, WFP and IFAD) and serves as Dean of the Arab Diplomatic Corps in Italy, reflecting her recognized prestige in the international diplomatic scene.
Throughout his career, he has represented Yemen in several foreign venues, including Brussels, Kuala Lumpur and Paris, contributing to the strengthening of multilateral dialogue and the promotion of economic, social and cultural cooperation.
The written contribution in the Proceedings of the Conference
In addition to her plenary address, H.E. Asmahan Abdulhameed Al Toqi offered a particularly valuable contribution through the paper published in the Proceedings of the Conference, entitled “The Challenges of Women’s Representation in Contemporary Yemen.”
In the text, the Ambassador develops an articulate reflection on the role of women in the diplomatic service, interweaving personal experience and analysis of the Yemeni context. The contribution highlights how the difficulties faced by women in diplomacy are not exclusively normative, but often stem from deeply rooted cultural and social factors that limit women’s access to and full participation in diplomatic careers.
Through his writing, H.E. Al Toqi proposes a vision of diplomacy as a service to the international community, based on ethics, transparency and shared responsibility. Central is the idea that peace and security are universal rights, to be guaranteed through collective solutions and genuine multilateral cooperation capable of giving voice to the most vulnerable.
The Ambassador’s contribution in the Proceedings thus represents not only a professional testimony, but also a tool for study and reflection for students, researchers and young people interested in international relations and contemporary diplomacy.
Dialogue with students and the younger generation
During the meeting at the Embassy, students from the associations present had the opportunity to directly discuss the issues addressed in the Conference and explored in the Proceedings, asking questions and sharing reflections also inspired by reading the written contributions.
This exchange confirmed what emerged strongly in the Conference: the diplomacy of the future passes through the conscious involvement of the new generations, called to build bridges between cultures, institutions and civil society.
A path that continues
The meeting with the Embassy of the Republic of Yemen is part of a larger cycle of institutional appointments promoted by Welcome Association Italy as a natural continuation of the Conference “Women and Diplomacy: Voices from the World.”
A path that continues to develop over time, with the aim of consolidating a stable network between embassies, universities and student associations, enhancing the contribution of women in diplomacy and the strategic role of young people in building a future based on dialogue, cooperation and shared responsibility.
