Ambassadors

"I like to define myself not according to what I have suffered but according to how much I have overcome, and I am very grateful to my mother for instilling that in both me and my sister… I never see a glass half empty but I see it half full."

"I had to believe one day we would be free. The struggle became my motivation – that’s all I could hang on to."

"In Zambia, many male-led parties genuinely advocate for women's equality and their representation in power, which is surprising considering the significant influence that women in civil society have in terms of organizing and voting strength."

"People often dislike those who are assertive about their opinions. In our traditional society, men and women are viewed differently, with distinct expectations and values assigned to each gender."

"There was a situation of a "zero venture fund zone" aimed at supporting local nationals across all Sub-Saharan African countries, where approximately 70 percent of the population lived in poverty."

"I have always been drawn to politics, but I pursued a career in the Foreign Service."

"In 1997, if you had asked me if I would run for the presidency, I would have thought you were crazy. However, as I traveled back and forth from Germany to Zambia and witnessed the economic decline and poverty, I started to rethink my position."

"When I announced my entry into politics, I quickly gained both supporters and detractors, with neither group taking the time to understand my motivations. People don’t hate you personally; they resent your courage and willingness to take bold actions. I believe these reactions were not solely due to my being a woman."

"I chose to run for President because I believe that the first country in Africa to address poverty, hunger, and disease while promoting women's participation in decision-making will achieve significant development."

"when a man is elected ,he wants to be in charge ,he doesn't feel the need to move his chair .when a woman enters the political field ,if she is asked to go to the rural villages ,she does it ."

""Prosecution, prevention and protection"... Jamaica would, however, wish to add another essential "p" to the three "p" paradigm, that is partnership."

"Women have a new interest in political issues. Of course, women are a little concerned about their new powers. We don’t want to seem aggressive or in competition with men. We want acceptance from men."

"My personal challenge has been to push women in this congress. The president of Tunisia affirmed his commitment to double the number of women in the congress of the Constitutional Democratic Rally. In the recent elections, if there was a list of five to seven candidates, we were obliged to vote for at least one woman."

"We are not a bomb to be defused. We are a dynamic force for progress that no one can stop."

"I express my pleasure over Al Gebali’s appointment. It is like seeing the results of what I started."

"To get my rights. I joined Huda Shaarawy’s association and other associations that were fighting for women’s rights. I was then only 21 but to no avail."

"I was the second Arab female ambassador after King Hassan’s sister. I was also not the first Egyptian ambassador to Europe; I was preceded by Hatshepsut, Nefertari and Nefertiti, those Egyptian queens who are well known in the world over."

"No more than secretaries toeing the line and being assigned tasks instead of acting like ministers capable of initiating policies."

"A ban on entering the judiciary based on gender goes against Section forty"

"Women will be fully empowered and gender equality will prevail when we explain to everyone in the society that they stand to benefit."

"There are still women and girls who are denied their right to education even though the government provides free basic education, but some parents deprive their daughters of that right."

"My diligent efforts were rewarded when I was decorated with the ‘Order of Good Hope’."

"The first challenge is to ensure that the team works in a complementary and harmonious manner. Beyond the pleasant atmosphere it can create when it is united, its productivity can be surprising."

"In my opinion, we do not assert ourselves by gender but by the relevance of ideas and firmness in positions, we also assert ourselves when we move things forward towards new horizons and we assert ourselves especially when we never give up a just fight."

"We have definitely seen marked improvements in the status of women. These improvements are driven by the diligent efforts exerted by women- led movements."

"Egyptian women already have gained the right to travel without their husband’s prior consent, and the right to pass down their nationality to children born to foreign fathers."

"Women’s rights have been secured constitutionally, with many constitutional terms, translated into legal clauses while others remain in the pipes. There are several measurable examples that echo the ongoing progress of women in Egypt by law."

"some people doubt women’s capabilities simply because they are women, so you have to double your efforts to get what you are entitled for."

"We still need to change the cultural practices that constitute violence against women and the best way to achieve this is by putting more women on the decision- making level, be it at the governmental or the parliamentary."

"To empower women, we should ensure that all young girls receive their education. The benefits of this education will trickle down not only to their families but nationwide as well."

"Offering females quality education and putting in place techniques for active life-long learning, while giving them the space to express themselves and air their grievances, as well as access to support removing any obstacles in their way for development, are badly needed."

"You can do it just have self- confidence and work hard. Women are multitaskers. They are soldiers and if they believe in what they are doing they will succeed…so believe in God, build friends and alliances, do not make enemies"

"There are several measurable examples that echo the ongoing progress of women in Egypt by law: more than 12 years ago Egyptian women already have gained the right to travel without their husband’s prior consent, and the right to pass down their nationality to children born to foreign fathers."

"Love is the key to happiness and continuity."

"Ramadan in Canada certainly does not have the Meknès flavor or the family atmosphere, in the broad sense. Of course, on a small scale, with my husband and my children, we create the right conditions to fully experience our Ramadan with its spirituality as well as its chhiouates, but what we miss are the voices of the Muezzen rising from all the minarets of the city, in a natural harmony at the time of breaking the fast."

"In general, I listen to the news and watch a few shows that deal with current affairs such as "Mais encore..." or "Grand angle". During the month of Ramadan, it is especially the lightness of the hidden camera that amuses me."

"I simply like barbecue, grilling, but the flavor of my mother's kefta mechouiya and mderbel eggplant tagine is unique and I can't find it anywhere else!"

"If these by hope doe joye in their distresse, And constant are, in hope to conquer tyme, Then let not hope in us (sweete friend) be lesse, And cause our love to wither in the Pryme.Let us conspyre, and time will have an end, So both of us in time shall have a frend."

"Both poles we burnt, whereon the world doeth turne, The rownd of heaven, from earth unto the skies: And nowe the seas we both intend to burne: I with my bowe, and Licia with her eyes."

"Sometimes spiritual, religious leaders and interreligious dialogue can pave the way for a dialogue between two sides to a conflict. It can abolish misconceptions, it can create trust, it can promote dialogue and build bridges to peace. In this respect interreligious dialogue can be a foundation between two sides to a conflict."

"War in the family, but actually longing for peace, has been a message that was handed over for generations, so maybe it sits in my genes."

"To my mind, the key to assisting in the solution of problems that we have all over the world is education. We can talk a lot about how each and everyone needs to share in the problem of getting people out of poverty, but you can't do it if the mind is not developed."

"I very often quote the difference between this collective approach and the individual approach. The European policy of human rights is about defending the individual against oppression by a majority group."

"That's a necessity for fighting terrorism, not only for us, but for the free world itself."

"Immediately the large reaction was that nobody can accept what happened, so we can say freedom of speech is safe, in a way. Victory's already there because that was the forefront."

"Thay haif said. Quhat say they? Lat thame say."

"Concerning international affairs, relations between Mexico and the Holy See are very open. We collaborate on many issues and we have a fluid dialogue on human rights, migration, cooperation between international organizations, peaceful solution of conflicts, and of course the rejection of war. These are some of the principles of the national policies of Mexico which have much convergence with the Holy See."

"The quality and sustainability of a vocation rests not solely on the Pope's shoulders, but rather those of the entire community. We must encourage our priests and strongly support the work that they do, pray for more vocations as a community, and speak about vocations in schools and our homes so that it comes to the fore of our minds."

"The Portuguese are also a people who are very curious about foreigners, as anyone who visits our country can see. They are considered as bridge-builders."

"We consider it vital that Sri Lanka associates itself with the changes taking place in Latin America and with the architects of those changes. At a crucial time in the history of my country, where perspectives for peace and justice have been made possible by a political will to restore sovereignty and to defend our country from external intervention."