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By Michele Aparicio, Junior Female Leaders Spain
“Breaking Barriers: A Transformative Experience at GWL Voices”
Attending GWL Voices’ Dialogue as a Junior Female Leaders (JFL) representative was a profoundly enlightening experience for me. From the outset, I was pleasantly surprised by our organizations’ strong alignment of values. While GWL Voices operates at a senior level and JFL caters to a younger demographic, both share a common vision: to promote women in leadership roles within the international arena.
Growing up, I was keenly aware of the lack of female representation in the fields of International Relations and politics. The prominent figures in these areas were predominantly men, leading me to believe that women were relegated to lesser roles. However, as I matured, I began to recognize the crucial role of women in these fields and the importance of their visibility. This realization inspired me to pursue studies in International Relations and join Junior Female Leaders.
Through my involvement in projects aimed at gender equality, I have encountered remarkable role models such as Michelle Bachelet, whose election and reelection represented a significant milestone in the political history of the Americas due to her leadership and role as a reference for women in Latin American politics, as well as other GWL Voices members.
While significant progress has been made, I believe there is still much ground to cover. Being a woman in this field entails breaking through gender barriers to attain leadership positions, while striving to be recognized and valued across all spheres, including traditionally male-dominated areas such as security and defense.
During the two days of the event, I was struck by the alarming low percentage of female leadership highlighted in the “Women in Multilateralism Report” presented by Hillary Clinton. This report, a product of extensive research, sheds light on the current gender disparity in leadership roles. However, the event wasn’t just about learning from esteemed speakers; it was also an opportunity to connect with the inspiring young women of the HER TURN Initiative, whose stories and experiences were truly enriching.
One of the highlights of the event was the chance to engage in a coffee session with Michelle Bachelet and Radhika Coomaraswamy. It was a moment filled with empowerment, where we gained insights into their professional journeys and received invaluable advice.
This encounter, along with the entirety of the event, has been a unique and enriching experience both professionally and personally. It has broadened my horizons and reignited my determination to continue working in this field , as I've learned, it is MY TURN to make a difference.
At the end of the second day, we had a celebratory session where I had the opportunity to ask María Fernanda Espinosa (an Ecuadorian diplomat, politician, former Defense Minister of Ecuador, and GWL Voices’ Executive Director ), how we should address the issue of the roles assigned to women in politics, given that she broke that barrier. She replied with great assurance in knowing who we are and making it clear that we are capable of leading from the beginning, and above all, she said,“Don’t be discouraged”. Michelle Bachelet also imparted wise advice on forming alliances when starting a project.
Additionally, in this gathering, the speakers who graciously shared with us lessons from their professional trajectories in international leadership, passed the baton to us and have provided us with an extremely important roadmap for the next generation.
Being young, a woman, and a migrant, I am proud to have overcome many of all the barriers I once saw, and now more than ever, I am focused on advancing human rights and gender equality.
I aspire to leave a lasting impact, much like the women of GWL VOICES, on equality and diversity, which is why I am convinced that it is “ women’s turn to reshape the future”.
Moreover, I want to highlight the commitment of many governments and male leaders to emphasize that equality is not solely the responsibility and commitment of women, but the commitment of men as well.
In conclusion, GWL VOICES has reaffirmed my belief in the importance of women’s leadership and the need for concerted efforts to overcome gender barriers in all aspects of society. It has fueled my passion to contribute to advancing women’s leadership and has instilled in me the conviction that together, we can create a more equitable and inclusive world. It is not just a matter of breaking through glass ceilings but of shattering stereotypes and paving the way for future generations of female leaders.
In light of the insights gained from GWL VOICES Dialogue, how can we individually commit to fostering a more inclusive environment for women in leadership?