International Day of Women in Diplomacy 2025

Welcome Remarks by Mrs. Zainab Hawa Bangura, Director-General, United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) on the occasion of the celebration of the International Day of Women in Diplomacy 2025

Your Excellency Mrs. Guo Haiyan, Ambassador of China to Kenya and my co-host,

Your Excellencies Women Ambassadors,

Ms. Beatrice Mwaura, Director-General, Legal & Host Country Affairs, Government of Kenya,

Dear Women Diplomats in the Government of Kenya,

Dear UN Women Colleagues,

Dear Colleagues,

Dear Students,

Good afternoon.

I am honored to join H.E. Mrs. Guo Haiyan, Chinese Ambassador to Kenya, in welcoming you all to this Intergenerational Voices Café co-hosted by H.E. Mrs. Guo Haiyan and myself in my capacity as Chair of the Women Leaders Network of the UN Kenya.

In 2020, I re-launched the Women Leaders Network in Kenya. The Network aims to leverage the strong foundation established by my predecessors and today I co-chair the Network together with Inger Anderson, UNEP Executive Director, and Anacláudia Rossbach, UN-Habitat Executive Director.

The Network consists of a Mentorship Working Group and an Advocacy, Outreach and Communication Working Group (AOC), and is supported by UN Women as the Secretariat. It aims to advocate gender equality and women’s empowerment by supporting the actions of the Secretary-General’s strategy of reaching gender parity among staff in the UN by 2028. I am proud to say that the leadership of the UN Country Team in Kenya has reached this goal. I would like to highlight that the SG Antonio Guterres is the first SG to have appointed the highest number of women in leadership positions within the UN.

As the Director-General of UNON and as an International Gender Champion, I have made a personal commitment to operationalize the Network at the Nairobi duty station. My desire and commitment is to support and mentor female staff members and to provide a safe space for all colleagues, of all ranks, including emerging leaders, to grow in their careers.

As we celebrate the International Day of Women in Diplomacy today, I am happy to join H.E. Mrs. Guo Haiyan to bring the Network’s members together with the female diplomatic

community in Kenya, Kenyan female diplomats and young emerging diplomatic leaders to provide a space where we can all learn from each other as women.

A vibrant generation of young women across the globe—including in Kenya—is pursuing studies in international relations, diplomacy, and global governance. These young women bring with them fresh insight, digital savvy, and a deepening sense of transnational consciousness, creating meaningful dialogue between today’s women diplomats.

These aspiring leaders offer a powerful opportunity to exchange knowledge, spark ambition, and share the lived realities of navigating complex diplomatic and political terrain.

While every woman’s path to leadership is unique, many of our experiences share common threads. These parallels can offer valuable lessons for younger generations. As women leaders, we have a responsibility to guide and support others—helping more women and girls reach their full potential.

By creating opportunities, sharing what we’ve learned, and actively mentoring, we can contribute to a future where more women succeed, lead with confidence and know that we are enough.

As we look ahead to Beijing+30 and beyond, nurturing women’s leadership across generations is more than a symbol of our commitment to gender equality—it’s a vital investment in a more equitable and empowered future.

Let us shatter the barriers and leave the doors wide open for younger women to follow, knowing that we belong in decision-making spaces.

Thank you.