On the occasion of the celebration of the 25th anniversary of its founding, the Department of International and European Studies of the University of Piraeus, in collaboration with the organization “WOMEN ACT,” organized the second conference titled Women and Diplomacy on May 26.
During the conference, the Secretary General for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy, Maira Myrogianni, delivered a speech entitled “Women in International Relations and in the Greek Diaspora”, in which, among other things, she stated:
“The General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy embraces the idea of organizing a conference that brings together Women Diplomats and highlights the timeless role of women in international relations.
Highlighting the pivotal role of women in the Greek diaspora is a priority of the government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis. This government has implemented a series of national strategies, action plans, and legislative initiatives that incorporate participation in public policies with a view to promoting human rights, gender equality, and social inclusion.
In 2024, under the guidance of our Minister Mr George Gerapetritis and our Deputy Minister Ms Alexandra Papadopoulou, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs developed an Equality Action Plan, which represents a crucial step in the collective effort to improve the conditions under which our workforce at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs carries out its mission –namely the protection and promotion of our country’s interests.
In today’s global environment, the growing presence of women in leadership roles is the result of multiple interconnected factors. The General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy implements a holistic approach that includes actions to encourage everyone to participate, including women, with the overall goal of strengthening the ties between the diaspora and the metropolitan center.
To this end, in our comprehensive Strategic Plan for the Greek Diaspora, which we implement together with our Deputy Minister Mr Yiannis Loverdos, one of our key objectives is to highlight the multifaceted role of women as guardians or Hellenism, responsible for the preservation of the Greek language, customs, traditions, and culture.
Additionally, under the “Women in Diaspora” initiative we plan to organize workshops, conferences and networking events to highlight the timeless role of Greek Diaspora Women in all facets of family, social and professional life.
Some of the initiatives we are currently undertaking, include the creation of Diaspora Women’s Networks, an Annual Meeting of Greek Women in the Diaspora, scholarships for Greek Women Abroad, training, funding and mentoring programs, seminars, the use of Digital Platforms and Social Media as well as the creation of a Digital Library of Greek Women’s Art and Creativity. We are also exploring ways to provide psychological Support and Social Integration Programs, as well as awards of Excellence.
Equally important is the role of women in our Public Diplomacy Strategic Plan, where the stories of excellence of Greek women are part of our country’s storytelling. They represent the modern, forward-thinking Greece, which invests in merit, equality and inclusion. Advancing gender equality in diplomacy is a prerequisite for building more effective and lasting global solutions.”
Within the framework of the conference, the Director General for Public Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Katerina Koika, participated in a panel discussion entitled “Women in High-Level Diplomacy: Breaking the Glass Ceiling”, alongside PASOK Member of Parliament Nadia Giannakopoulou, diplomatic correspondent Alexia Tasouli, and Ino Afentouli, Special Advisor and Head of the Geopolitics and Diplomacy Observatory at ELIAMEP.
In her remarks, Ms. Koika addressed the longstanding challenges women continue to face in their pursuit of positions of high responsibility, while acknowledging the significant progress achieved in recent years both in Greece and internationally. She noted that the introduction of quotas in the past highlighted pre-existing inequalities, emphasizing, however, that genuine equality requires a broader shift in mindset, sustained investment in education, and the strengthening of institutions that promote equal opportunities and lifelong professional development. She further pointed to Scandinavian countries, with their deeply rooted culture of equality, as notable examples of strong female representation in senior governmental positions.
Turning specifically to Public Diplomacy, Ms. Koika underscored its growing importance as a strategic communication tool and a means of enhancing Greece’s international profile. She observed that Greece’s public diplomacy efforts are steadily expanding beyond the scope of traditional diplomacy into areas such as science, the environment, energy, and the economy. With regard to the role of women in the Greek diplomatic corps, she noted that although the situation within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has improved, with women currently holding approximately 37% of leadership positions, further progress is still needed to achieve full equality. She also highlighted that the Ministry is already implementing a Strategic Equality Plan aimed at addressing existing challenges and further strengthening women’s representation in leadership roles.
Concluding her intervention, Ms. Koika expressed her conviction that women are fully capable of excelling and competing on equal terms for top positions on the international stage, not on the basis of gender, but through merit, competitiveness, and the quality of their work. She referred to prominent examples of women who have distinguished themselves in leading international institutions and organizations, stressing that genuine equality is ultimately secured through meritocracy, robust institutional safeguards, and sustained collective effort.
