On May 22, Ambassador Lina Annab attended a meeting of women ambassadors in Japan with the Secretary General of the ruling part the Liberal Democratic Party, Mr. MOTEGI Toshimitsu. The meeting was hosted by the Ambassador of Mexico, Melba Pria.
The event was joined by Lawmaker YAMADA Miki, Member of the Diet House of Representatives and Chief Secretary of the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Parliamentarian Network, and member of the Diet Upper House Lawmaker MATSUKAWA Rui.
Annab delivered remarks on behalf of the Asian Group of ambassadors. Annab highlighted the diverse and complex nature of Asia, emphasizing that its immense cultural, linguistic, and socio-economic variety makes it challenging to discuss the continent as a homogeneous entity.
“Asia encompasses a wide range of cultures, languages, religions, and socio-economic conditions, each presenting unique challenges and opportunities related to gender equality and women’s empowerment,” stated Ambassador Annab. Despite these differences, she pointed out that common challenges related to gender issues are faced by all countries in Asia and worldwide, including economic disparities and the underrepresentation of women in leadership roles.
Ambassador Annab also underscored Japan’s unique and influential position on the global stage. As the sole Asian country in the G7 and a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the year 2024, Japan has a significant platform to champion gender equality and women’s empowerment both regionally and globally.
Reflecting on the current global situation, Ambassador Annab emphasized the impact of the war on Gaza, particularly on Palestinian women and children. She highlighted Japan’s potential role in advocating for inclusive peace processes that ensure women’s voices are heard and their participation in decision-making is systematically ensured.
Annab commented that “Over the past few decades, progress has been made internationally in recognizing the importance of including women’s perspectives in crisis response, whether in traditional security, such as war and conflict, or in non-traditional security areas like natural disasters,”. She noted that studies have shown that women’s active participation in conflict resolution leads to better outcomes in preventing conflict recurrence and maintaining peace.
Ambassador Annab praised Japan’s efforts in mainstreaming women’s issues in its international cooperation, including the formation of the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) task force and the establishment of the WPS Parliamentary League in December 2022.
In conclusion, Ambassador Annab called for more comprehensive discussions that include a range of stakeholders to address modern conflicts and peace efforts. “As we face conflicts, wars, and natural disasters, international cooperation and the inclusion of women’s perspectives in decision-making are vital for achieving lasting peace and stability,” Annab said.
The meeting included exchange of ideas on how to strengthen collaboration among women ambassadors and Japanese leaders and policy makers, furthering the commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment.
