KUWAIT CITY, March 16: Canadian Ambassador to Kuwait Aliya Mawani has affirmed Canada’s commitment to promote Francophonie values and gender equality. In a speech at the Francophone Diwaniya organized by the Canadian Embassy to celebrate the International Francophonie Day and International Women’s Day, Mawani pointed out that the Francophone Diwaniya takes on special significance this time, as it coincides with the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Canada and Kuwait. “Canada is proud to be a bilingual country, with French and English as its official languages. Linguistic and cultural diversity is an integral part of our national identity, reflecting our aspirations for a more diverse and inclusive society. We are also proud to be part of La Francophonie, a global community of more than 320 million French speakers in five continents,” Mawani disclosed.

On the event coinciding with International Women’s Day, Mawani emphasized the importance of this occasion in promoting dialogue on gender equality and supporting the empowerment of women. She asserted that investing in women strengthens societies and economies. “Experience has proven that more diverse companies achieve greater success, and that women in leadership and negotiation positions contribute to more sustainable and effective outcomes. When women succeed, society as a whole succeeds, because equality is not just a matter of justice; it is also a fundamental driver of development and prosperity,” she added.

She said “gender equality is the pillar of Canada’s foreign policy. In the 20 years I spent in diplomatic service, I have witnessed remarkable progress in the empowerment of women in Canada and internationally. Women constitute 50 percent of Canadian ambassadors around the world.” Despite this progress, Mawani believes there is still a long way to go to achieve full equality; citing a World Economic Forum report indicating that achieving full gender parity could take until 2158, a figure she described as “unacceptable.” She also underscored the need to adopt new approaches, and engage the widest possible range of voices and expertise to achieve the desired change. She called for stronger cooperation between women and men to achieve equality, stressing that “women’s empowerment is not limited to women, as it is rather a collective responsibility.”

By Fares Al-Abdan
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff