From 19 to 21 May 2025, Riga will host a training session jointly organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, the “Women For Security” association, and the Asia-Europe Foundation for representatives from Asian and European countries to empower them with understanding of gender equality issues and related aspects. Participants are diplomats and representatives from the public and non-governmental sector from 19 countries in Asia and Europe (ASEF partner countries). The training aims at providing in-depth knowledge on topics such as the legal aspect of gender equality, insights into international organisations’ work on gender equality, gender-based violence, the situation in Afghanistan and Ukraine, and the experience gained in the South Asian region.
On 19 May, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braže, will open the training and address the participants.
At the introductory session, the trainees will be addressed by Ambassador-at-Large Andrejs Pildegovičs, the Rector of the University of Latvia, Gundars Bērziņš, the Executive Director of ASEF, Beata Stoczyńska, and remotely – by the Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland, Anna Radwan-Röhrenschef. A lecture on the history of women’s empowerment will be delivered by the Head of Secretariat of the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund, Tonni Ann Brodber. The MARTA Centre association will share Latvia’s experience of fighting violence against women and domestic violence.
The basic course of the programme will take place on the premises of the Academic Library of the University of Latvia. Lecturers will include professionals from at least 10 Asian and European countries.
The training is supported by the European Union, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovakia.
For further information see the ASEF website: asef.org
The programme is based on the thematic scope of the UN Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.
The training is implemented as part of the public diplomacy programme in support of the lobby campaign of Latvia’s candidacy for the United Nations Security Council. The campaign under the motto of “Together for peace and resilience” aims at ensuring that Latvia, a first-time candidate for an elected member’s seat, is elected to the UN Security Council for the 2026–2027 term. Membership of the UNSC will be a key instrument in pursuit and protection of Latvia’s foreign policy interests and enable Latvia to expand its international cooperation, thereby contributing to world peace and resilience.