Ambassadors celebrate Women's Month

This Women's Month, six women ambassadors representing their countries in South Africa speak about their leadership. In a world still navigating inequality, it stands as a reminder of what diplomacy can look like.

- Marion Smith

Ukraine

For Liubov Abravitova, Ukraine's ambassador to South Africa, diplomacy represents building bridges across cultures and serving her country.

As a diplomat representing a nation at war, she has witnessed extraordinary strength in Ukraine, where women hold families together. With more than 4 000 women on the front line.

Her Women's Month message draws on this shared resilience: "Your courage matters, your voice matters and your dreams are powerful. Never doubt your ability to shape history; every great change begins with a woman who dares to act. Remember: 'Wathint' abafazi, wathint' imbokodo."

Abravitova emphasises creating spaces where women can lead through mentorship and inclusive policies. "Leadership isn't a title, it's responsibility, and women are ready," she says

Türkiye

Diplomacy was a childhood dream for Türkiye's head of mission, ambassador Nilvana Darama Yildirimgec, connecting her love for her country with discovering the world.

Her Women's Month approach centres on individual empowerment: every woman is unique and special, should love who they are and view failures as opportunities for improvement.

On women's leadership, she emphasises that women are as qualified as men, and often more pragmatic and result-oriented. "Women must trust their abilities and claim their rightful leadership roles through tact and intelligence, not by emulating male counterparts."

Reflecting on her achievements, she notes that reaching diplomacy's pinnacle speaks for itself, with true recognition coming from others acknowledging one's effectiveness in strengthening international relations.

Bulgaria