Ms Mariia Mezentseva, Chairperson of the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination of the Parliamentary Assembly Thank you, dear Yevheniia for mentioning this case and the instrument of gender equality in State funds and the funds of international partners, which is very important. Next on my list is our Swiss friend and representative who was re-elected recently and congrats to her, Ms Sibel Arslan. Please, the floor is yours. Welcome back.

Ms Sibel Arslan (Switzerland, SOC) Thank you very much Mariia. I would like to ask my question in German. So, I would like to thank the members of the panel. Thank you very much. Somebody mentioned the role of women in business. Well, in Switzerland, Liechtenstein’s neighbouring country of course, we are also discussing the shortage of skilled workers and talking about the need to ensure that women who have the necessary skills also have the necessary family support so that they can become more involved in the workplace. And perhaps we can hear a little more advice about how we might draw on the potential of women. Now I also want to talk about peace processes, women being involved in peace process negotiations. We know that negotiating or discussions tend to last longer. These processes go on for longer when women are involved. 30% longer. And so, I think it is a very good idea to ensure that our foreign policy is also firmly anchored on the principle of gender equality. Thank you.

Ms Mariia Mezentseva, Chairperson of the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination of the Parliamentary Assembly Three more speakers and then we come back to the panel to answer a very important question on peace resolutions and economic elements. The next on my list I have Fiona from Ireland. Please, dear Fiona, the floor is yours.

Ms Fiona O’Loughlin (Ireland, EPP/CD) Thank you Mariia and thank you of course for your leadership in relation to this. And when we think of female leaders, we only have to look at the top table and look at Despina also in terms of her encouragement and support, particularly of the women's group that has formed. Two of the most genuinely inspirational moments that I have had since becoming a member of PACE have been the meeting with Vigdís and with the former President in Latvia. And I just want to say that is just incredible news that within two days we are going to have the vote in relation to the Istanbul Convention. But I think the wisdom and the experience, and I am very conscious that we are where we are because of standing on the shoulders of women like those two incredible women. So, we should never stop looking for inspirational role models. And I think that is true within all of our own countries, maybe not to the same degree. And I think it would be interesting if from every one of our 46 member States that we were able to look at providing centrally into the women's group, just maybe one or two women within our own countries and something about them that has inspired us on our own role and on our own path. And I can immediately think of two in my own country. Constance Markievicz, who was not just the very first woman elected to the Irish Parliament, but the very first woman elected to the Westminster Parliament and the second female minister in the whole world. And the other would be Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, who it took 60 years for another minister, female minister, and she decriminalised homosexuality in Ireland only 30 years ago. So, again, really, really strong women. And I think that we all learn so much collectively from these women that are inspiration to all of us. In terms of the Vigdís Prize, I think is a great thing to do and I am just wondering how we can communicate it, how we can encourage women to enter, what the process is going to be. As the Chair of the Women's Caucus in Ireland, I am conscious that as of yesterday, the gender pay gap kicked in and as we say, women are working for free for the rest of the year from yesterday. Being a member of a parliament where we still only have 24% women, we all have a lot to do. So, we have to inspire one another, we have to learn from one another, and we have to, I think, collectively support women where we can. The previous speaker spoke about the peace process and the voice of women in peace. The peace process in Ireland would never have come about if it wasn't for the National Women's Coalition and for women like Eileen Paisley, who was wife of Dr. Ian Paisley, who said that eventually she was able to when she saw her grandchildren being born, she was able to persuade her husband that she wanted her grandchildren to grow up in a time of peace. So, the voice of the women both elected in positions, but also the voices of women who had influence over men who were elected, were really, really important. But thank you. I think this is a wonderful initiative and I really wish you the very best of luck. Thank you.

Ms Mariia Mezentseva, Chairperson of the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination of the Parliamentary Assembly Thank you very much, dear Fiona, thank you for bringing concrete examples. And I think all 46 parliaments are united in the endeavours for better representation of women, and not only. Finally,

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