WOW Alliance
Women of the World for the Empowerment of Women in Politics, Economy, and Diplomacy
WOW Alliance »
An Overview
UK Forum on Cultural Diplomacy 2026 »
“Strengthening Democracy, Women’s Leadership, Impactful Development and Security”
(London; January 12-15th, 2026)
WOW-Alliance Summit 2026 »
(London; January 12-15th, 2026)
WG10 Initiative »
An Overview
WG10 Summit »
Edinburgh; September 1st-4th, 2025
The Scotland Forum 2025 »
(Heriot-Watt University; Edinburgh, September 1st–4th, 2025)
Welcome from the Presiding Officer The Rt Hon Alison Johnstone MSP
Alison Johnstone (Presiding Officer, Parliament of Scotland)
Welcome from the Deputy Presiding Officer The Rt Hon Annabelle Ewing MSP
Annabelle Ewing (Deputy Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament)
“Modern Front-Runners, Though Gender Equality Remains a Journey”
Bjort Samuelson (Speaker of the Parliament, Faroe Islands)
“Holding the Line - Why We Can't Afford to Deprioritize Human Rights”
Mary Lawlor (UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders)
"Writing makes me feel heard: CGIAR’s work to address gender equality in food & nutrition security“
Rebecca Williams (Director, People & Culture, CGIAR System Organization)
“Supporting gender equality through language in the European Union”
Ildikó Horváth (Director of the Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union)
Opening Address by the UN Special Rapporteur
Elisa Morgera (UN Special Rapporteur on Climate Change and Human Rights)
“Culture and Women’s Empowerment: Keys to Preventing Conflict“
Jeanette Gustafsdotter (Minister of Culture of Sweden 2021-2022)
“Women’s Leadership in International Diplomacy”
Eva-Maria Liimets (Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia 2021-2022)
“Breaking Barriers: Women’s Leadership and Effective Participation in Shaping a Future of Peace and Prosperity“
Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis (Minister Foreign Affairs of Cyprus 2007-8, 2011-13)
“Feminist Foreign Policy as a Way to Strengthen the Situation for Women in the World”
Ann Linde (Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden 2019-2022)
"2025 Global Women’s Leadership Award"
Christine Lagarde (President, European Central Bank)
"2025 German Women’s Leadership Award"
Elke Budenbender (First Lady of Germany - Spouse of the President of Germany)
"Public/Private Sector Partnerships Advancing Economic Opportunities for Women and Girls"
Karin Prien (Minister for Education, Women, Family, Seniors and Youth of Germany)
Welcome Message from the German Parliament
Josephine Ortleb (Vice President of the German Parliament)
“Growing Threats for Democracy Around the World – Perspectives from Lithuania”
Dalia Grybauskaité (President of Lithuania 2009-19)
"Small States, Big Impact: Navigating Global Challenges through Collaborative Multilateralism and Cultural Diplomacy"
Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova (President of the Republic of North Macedonia)
“Investing in Children for Sustainable Peace and Effective Democracy”
Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca (President of Malta 2014-19)
“Global Governance of Culture”
Irina Bokova (10th Director-General of UNESCO)
“Cultural Diplomacy - An Underestimated Key Part of the Diplomatic Toolkit “
Catherine Ashton (High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs & Security Policy 2009-14)
"Securing Africa’s Future: Placing Human Capital Investment at the Heart of Prosperity”
Etleva Kadilli (Regional Director for Eastern & Southern Africa, United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF)
Cultural Diplomacy in the United Nations 2017
Joyce Hilda Banda (President of Malawi 2012-14)
"Industrial Policy: Building Europe's Strategic Independence and Security"
Natalia Gavrilița (Prime Minister of Moldova 2021-23)
"History Did Not End, But Freedom Will Prevail Every Time"
Roza Otunbayeva (President of Kyrgyzstan 2010-11)
“Sustainable Development and Culture of Peace”
Tarja Halonen (President of Finland 2000-12)
"Sehenden Auges in den großen Krieg? Warum der Westen seine Strategie ändern muss"
Sahra Wagenknecht (MdB; Leader of the BSW – For Reason and Justice)
"The Green New Deal: For a New Concept of Development"
Renate Künast (Co-Leader of the German Green Party)
Deutschland und die Welt
Brigitte Zypries (Former German Minister of Justice)
“India-EU Partnership: Way Forward”
Meenakshi Lekhi (Minister of State for External Affairs of India, 2021-24)
“Thank You for the Music: How Music and Culture has Become a Necessity in the Diplomatic Work"
Ann Linde (Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden)
“Reconciliation after Violent Conflict and Division: The Healing Role of Culture and Folklore”
Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis (Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus 2007-08, 2011-13)
“Cultural Diplomacy: Unraveling Its Full Potential”
Delia Domingo-Albert (23rd Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines 2003-04)
“Empowering Human Cultures for Hopeful Global Diplomacy”
Hakima El Haite (President, Liberal International)
“30 Years after the Fall of the Berlin Wall, what Prospects for our Strategy and Architecture of Security in Europe?”
Joëlle Garriaud-Maylam (President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly 2022-23)
“Bridges between Germans, Europeans and Citizens of the World"
Maria Joao Rodrigues (President of the Foundation for European Progressive Studies)
“Promoting Reconciliation: Cultural Diplomacy's Path to Restoring Trust in Europe after Ukraine war”
Slavjanka Petrovska (Minister of Defense of North Macedonia)
