Speaker of the House of Representatives of Belize, Valerie Woods, has urged young women to pursue leadership roles in diplomacy and public service, stressing that greater female participation in decision-making leads to stronger and more inclusive societies.
Woods was delivering remarks at the closing ceremony of the Diplomat for a Day Programme, held at the World Trade Centre Georgetown on Wednesday, to commemorate the International Day of Women in Diplomacy.
She praised the initiative for exposing young women to the realities of diplomatic work while encouraging them to envision themselves as future leaders on the regional and international stage.
“We are celebrating the possibility of each of you young women sitting there in that room who may one day negotiate a treaty, represent your country at the United Nations, lead a foreign ministry, head an international organisation, or help resolve conflict through dialogue and diplomacy,” Woods said.
She noted that diplomacy and political leadership have historically been dominated by men, both globally and within the Caribbean, and that women remain underrepresented in many areas of international affairs and public decision-making despite progress in recent decades.
Woods highlighted Guyana as a regional exception, citing its representation of women in Parliament through its proportional representation system.
She also drew from her own experience in Belize’s Parliament, recounting the posthumous pardon of Nora Parham, a woman sentenced to death decades ago after enduring years of domestic abuse, describing the effort as a demonstration of the importance of women in policymaking and legislative processes.
“The truth is that development is strengthened when women participate fully,” Woods said, adding that women bring expertise, innovation and lived experiences that enrich policy discussions and improve decision-making outcomes.
The Diplomat for a Day Programme was organised through a collaboration between the High Commission of Belize and several diplomatic missions and international partners.
