DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA: The protection of girls’ rights, gender equality and women’s participation in leadership have emerged as critical priorities in international diplomacy, with stakeholders emphasizing the need to unite diplomatic missions, civil society, the private sector and young people in advancing meaningful and lasting social change.
These issues took centre stage during the Women in Diplomacy Power Table, held in Dar es Salaam on October 9, 2026, and organised by the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa in Tanzania. Held under the theme, “The Power of the Girl Child: End Child Marriage, Invest in Girls’ Rights,” the gathering brought together diplomatic leaders, gender advocates and development stakeholders to explore the connections between human rights, economic empowerment, inclusive leadership and international cooperation.
The event underscored the growing importance of gender diplomacy in addressing social challenges that extend beyond national borders, highlighting the role of diplomatic engagement in amplifying the voices of women and girls, strengthening partnerships and translating international commitments into practical action.
Ambassador Liberata Mulamula Calls for Stronger Protection of Girls’ Rights.
The guest of honour, Ambassador Liberata Mulamula, the African Union’s Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security, called for strengthened efforts to combat child marriage and greater investment in girls’ education and rights.
Ambassador Mulamula emphasised that child marriage deprives girls of educational opportunities, restricts their ability to make decisions about their lives and undermines their prospects for a better future. She also highlighted the importance of women’s economic empowerment, noting that its benefits extend beyond individuals to families and society as a whole.
Her message placed the protection of the girl child within the broader framework of human security, inclusive development and sustainable peace. From this perspective, ending child marriage requires more than public awareness campaigns. It calls for sustained investment in education, effective child-protection systems, economic opportunities and coordinated action among governments, communities and international partners.
The discussion reinforced the understanding that investing in girls is not merely a social obligation but also a strategic investment in the future leadership, stability and prosperity of nations.
South African High Commissioner Highlights Economic Empowerment and Youth Potential.
South Africa’s High Commissioner to Tanzania, H.E. Noluthando Mayende-Malepe, emphasised the importance of confidence, determination and the effective use of available opportunities in enabling women and young people to strengthen their economic independence and contribute to community development.
She also encouraged women and young people to use social media productively, including as a platform for learning new skills, identifying income-generating opportunities and exploring ways to build sustainable livelihoods through the digital economy.
Her contribution highlighted an important dimension of contemporary diplomacy: connecting international cooperation with opportunities that directly affect people’s everyday lives. Diplomatic missions can serve as bridges between countries, institutions and communities, encouraging partnerships that advance shared priorities in education, gender equality, entrepreneurship and social development.
Through platforms such as the Women in Diplomacy Power Table, diplomatic engagement extends beyond formal relations between governments to include conversations about the social and economic conditions necessary for inclusive development.
The Embassy of South Africa’s role in convening such a platform also illustrates the potential of public diplomacy to bring diverse stakeholders together around issues of shared concern, while encouraging dialogue on the empowerment of women and the next generation of leaders.
Kanen Nehemiah Emphasises Women’s Place in Diplomacy and Leadership
The Director of Women in Diplomacy, Kanen Nehemiah, also addressed the gathering, contributing to discussions on women’s participation in diplomacy and the importance of platforms that encourage dialogue, professional networking and greater representation of women in leadership.
Platforms of this nature provide opportunities for women to exchange experiences, build professional relationships and engage in conversations that shape social development and decision-making. They also help broaden the understanding of diplomacy by recognising that meaningful international engagement depends not only on official negotiations but also on the participation of diverse voices in addressing shared challenges.
Women in Diplomacy is particularly relevant to the advancement of gender diplomacy, which seeks to integrate gender equality, women’s rights and inclusive participation into diplomatic dialogue, international cooperation and policy discussions.
Under this approach, women are not simply beneficiaries of development initiatives. They are also policymakers, negotiators, advocates and leaders whose experiences and perspectives can influence national, regional and global priorities.
The significance of the Power Table therefore lies in its potential to create connections between diplomatic representation and the realities facing women and girls, while encouraging sustained engagement among stakeholders committed to equality and inclusive leadership.
Junaid Othman Urges Women and Youth to Embrace Investment Opportunities
The Director of Mkuyu Africa, Juneid Othman, encouraged women and young people to take advantage of investment opportunities and pursue asset ownership from an early age, describing these as important steps towards financial independence and long-term economic security.
His contribution introduced an important economic dimension to the discussion on gender equality. Access to financial knowledge, investment opportunities, employment, capital and asset ownership can strengthen women’s capacity to make independent decisions and participate more fully in economic development.
For girls, access to education and protection of their rights provide a foundation for greater choices in life. For young women, economic opportunities can help reduce financial dependency, strengthen resilience and expand their participation in business, leadership and community development.
However, meaningful economic empowerment requires more than encouraging individuals to seize opportunities. It also depends on creating an enabling environment in which women and young people can access resources, develop relevant skills and participate fairly in economic systems.
This makes the private sector an important partner in advancing gender equality, particularly when investment, entrepreneurship and financial inclusion are connected to broader social-development objectives.
Lookman Miraji Advocates Greater Youth Participation in Leadership and Diplomacy.
Contributing to the discussions, Lookman Miraji, founder of the international programme LOHM Initiative, highlighted the importance of encouraging young people to participate in leadership, diplomacy and global-development conversations.
Through LOHM Initiative, Miraji advances an agenda focused on inspiring young people to understand their role in leadership, strengthen their knowledge of international affairs and engage with platforms that promote cooperation and inclusive development.
His participation brought a generational perspective to the discussion, emphasising that the protection of girls’ rights and the advancement of gender equality require the active involvement of young people in shaping the future.
Youth participation in diplomatic and social-development platforms can help introduce new perspectives, strengthen public awareness and connect community challenges with opportunities for national, regional and international cooperation. Equipping young people with the knowledge and confidence to engage in diplomacy is therefore an important investment in the next generation of leaders.
Miraji’s contribution also highlighted the importance of creating meaningful pathways through which young people can progress beyond attending conferences to participating in policy discussions, building partnerships and contributing to practical solutions.
In this context, youth-focused initiatives can complement the work of diplomatic institutions by encouraging civic engagement, leadership development and a stronger understanding of international cooperation among emerging leaders.
Gender Diplomacy: Moving Beyond Representation to Measurable Impact
From an international-relations perspective, the Women in Diplomacy Power Table reflects the growing relevance of gender diplomacy in connecting women’s and girls’ rights with broader priorities in peace, security, development and international relations.
Gender diplomacy recognises that equality should not be treated as a secondary issue in foreign policy or international engagement. Instead, it should inform diplomatic dialogue, cooperation and decision-making in ways that reflect the experiences and needs of different groups in society.
The platform also illustrates how diplomacy can extend beyond formal communication between governments to address challenges affecting people's everyday lives. Diplomats can facilitate the exchange of experiences between countries, encourage institutional partnerships and support international dialogue on approaches to protecting girls’ rights.
At the same time, civil society, the private sector and young people can contribute by translating shared commitments into practical initiatives within their communities.
The relevance of this approach is particularly clear in the fight against child marriage. Addressing the practice requires coordinated efforts involving education, child protection, community engagement, economic empowerment and effective implementation of relevant laws and policies. No single institution can resolve such challenges in isolation.
Consequently, the effectiveness of gender diplomacy should not be measured solely by the number of conferences held, statements issued or commitments announced. It should also be assessed through tangible progress in girls’ access to education, stronger protection against child marriage, expanded economic opportunities and meaningful participation by women and young people in leadership and decision-making.
This is where dialogue becomes consequential: when diplomatic engagement helps build partnerships capable of producing measurable and sustainable change.
For Tanzania and Africa more broadly, stronger cooperation between diplomatic missions, civil society, the private sector and young people remains important in advancing the rights of women and girls.
The Women in Diplomacy Power Table created an opportunity to bring these perspectives together, reinforcing the message that protecting the girl child is a shared responsibility requiring commitment, resources and sustained collaboration.
The gathering also highlighted the relationship between gender equality and the wider international development agenda. When girls are protected, educated and empowered to make decisions about their futures, societies strengthen their human capital, expand their leadership potential and create better conditions for sustainable development.
Ultimately, the Women in Diplomacy Power Table demonstrated the value of connecting diplomatic engagement with social progress. By bringing together diplomatic leadership, women's empowerment, private-sector perspectives and youth participation, the platform contributed to a broader conversation about how gender equality can be advanced through cooperation and inclusive leadership.
The next step is to sustain that conversation through practical initiatives, stronger partnerships and measurable outcomes. With continued engagement, Women in Diplomacy can further strengthen its role as a platform connecting diplomacy with social development, while advancing a future in which women, girls and young people have greater opportunities to shape the decisions that affect their lives and communities.