Lithuanian PM calls for greater gender balance in diplomatic appointments

Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė has urged Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry to prioritise gender balance when appointing diplomats, following the recent selection of a male ambassador to replace a female counterpart, LRT reports.

During a government meeting on Wednesday, Ruginienė addressed the appointment of Gytis Marcinkevičius as Lithuania’s new permanent representative to UNESCO, noting that the decision replaced a female ambassador with a male one. She called on the ministry to ensure women have equal opportunities for career advancement in future selections.

“We make various decisions—recalling some ambassadors, appointing others,” Ruginienė said. “But I would strongly urge you to consider gender balance, because in this case, we are replacing a female ambassador with a male one. I ask that in future appointments, you ensure women also have the chance to climb the career ladder, and that this is not conditioned by gender.”

The Foreign Ministry maintains it follows established guidelines to uphold gender equality. According to ministry data, women currently make up 55.19% of its staff, compared to 44.81% men. Officials stated that the ministry’s Gender Equality, Family, and Work-Life Balance Guidelines require adherence to equality principles in all operations, including diplomatic appointments.

Under Lithuanian procedure, the foreign minister—after consulting with the president and prime minister—proposes ambassadorial candidates, who are then reviewed by the Seimas (parliament) Foreign Affairs Committee.