Women still far from top in diplomatic career
Until she passed a public competition for a diplomatic career, in 2022, lawyer Dandara Lima, from São Luís, in the state of Maranhão, proposed herself to try a mental exercise. She would close her eyes and imagine herself signing the term of office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE), known as Itamaraty. She needed such creative effort to be able to picture herself in a universe where she is still a minority.Women make up only 23% of the current Brazilian diplomatic corps. The universe of Black female diplomats, which is Ms. Lima’s case, is even smaller—they represent only 3.2% of the country’s 1,578 active diplomats. The numbers are part of the second edition of the MRE’s race and ethnic bulletin, based on data from an internal census carried out for the first time last year. There is no comparison to the percentage of 23%, since there are no official records available, and the first edition of the bulletin did not provide a division of diplomats by gender."I couldn’t picture myself in that universe. The test is very difficult, I didn’t know any diplomats, and I didn’t see many with the same physical features I have. Mentalizing that environment in which I couldn’t picture myself helped in this process," says the 30-year-old diplomat, approved through the racial quota policy, after four years of preparation.The implementation of affirmative actions and, more recently, the creation of movements led by Black and female diplomats have increased the strength of the discussion both inside and outside diplomatic corps, and started to produce changes.The Brazilian foreign policy is in the spotlight since the country took the presidency of the G20 (group of major economies in the world) and as a result of the position of the Lula administration in relation to ongoing international conflicts.In Brazil, entry into the career occurs through the Rio Branco Institute (IRBr) diplomat career admission exam. The institution is also responsible for the diplomat training course, which may last up to four semesters. After successful completion of the course, students are confirmed in the foreign service as third-secretaries, the first level in the Itamaraty hierarchy, with a salary of R$20,900.The competition is open to all Brazilians over 18 years of age who hold a higher education degree, with no discrimination of gender or race. The entry of women was prohibited for 16 years, between 1938 and 1954, by a decree by then president Getúlio Vargas, which...
Para continuar a ler
PEÇA SUA AVALIAÇÃO