The program started with a lecture by Ivana Uličná (SFPA) about SFPA’s activities and projects that support women in international relations and diplomacy. The goal of the lecture and the discussion that followed was to inspire the partner organization and share good practice and project ideas.

The second day started with a workshop by Julie Felker (University of Michigan). We practiced how to fight gender-related prejudice and stereotypes and how to fight with our own imposter syndrome. In the afternoon we were honored by a visit from the Spanish ambassador to Slovakia, H. E. Lorea Arribalzaga Ceballos. We talked about Spanish feminist foreign policy and the ways Spanish female diplomats are supported. In the evening we went on a guided tour of Bratislava, where we learned about some of the important female historical figures of Bratislava. 

The last day we had a lecture about a neuroscience approach to critical thinking and overcoming unconscious gender bias. Olívia Hurbanová (Highbrows) explained to us how our brains form gender stereotypes and biases – understanding these processes will help us fight the biases. In addition to the official program, we spent a lot of time networking and making meaningful connections across the V4 states.

We would like to thank the Slovak Foreign Policy Association for the main organization of the workshop. We would also like to thank the other co-organizers on this project are the Equilibrium Institute (Hungary) and Casimir Pulaski Foundation (Poland). This project is financed by the Governments of the Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia through Visegrad Grants from International Visegrad Fund. The mission of the fund is to advance ideas for sustainable regional cooperation in Central Europe.