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Here in the US, 2020 marks the centennial of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote in 1920. It was the first legislation for women’s voting rights. In recognition and celebration of this momentous occasion, the San Diego Diplomacy Council is spotlighting the importance of women’s full and equal participation in the political process for our next event in the Global Leaders Online Forum series.

On Tuesday, September 29 at 10:00 AM Pacific Time, join us in this virtual dialogue where we will convene women from Cyprus, Montenegro, Suriname and the US to discuss advancements, barriers, and the future that lies ahead for women in politics. Featured speakers include local subject matter experts, and members of parliament and senior political advisers who have visited San Diego as part of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) sponsored by the US Department of State. The event will be moderated by Carl Luna, Director of the Institute for Civil Civic Engagement at the University of San Diego.

Featured Speakers:

Xenia Konstantinou

Xenia Konstantinou is a Member of the House of Representatives of Cyprus under the Democratic Rally Party. She has been involved in party politics for more than 20 years. Her past experience includes working as coordinator, trainer and facilitator on topics such as conflict resolution and empowerment of young people. From 2014 to 2018, Xenia served as President of the Women’s Organization of the Democratic Rally Party. She is an advocate for women’s political participation and seeks to improve the gender balance in government.

Valentina Minic

Valentina Minic is a Member of Parliament representing the Montenegro Democratic Party. She started her career as a doctor of medical dentistry. In 2016, she was appointed Vice President of the Local Committee of Democrats of Bar, which is a coastal town and seaport in southern Montenegro. She then served as President from 2017 to 2019. In May 2019, she was appointed International Secretary of the Democratic Montenegro. She is active in the party’s Bar chapter and in party decision-making bodies. Her work focuses on strengthening the legal framework of gender equality in elections and other aspects of the political process.

Angelic Del Castilho

Angelic Del Castilho is a Senior Policy Adviser at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Suriname. From 2007 to 2011, she represented the Republic of Suriname at the highest level in Indonesia. In 2015, she became chairperson of Democratic Alternative ’91, a political party in her country. She works to unite the culturally, ethnically, and religiously diverse society of Suriname and supports efforts to bring more stability and security to the citizens of Suriname, who face economic and political challenges.

Sara Jacobs

Sara Jacobs is the Founder and Chair of San Diego for Every Child: The Coalition to End Child Poverty. She previously worked as a Scholar in Residence at the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies at the University of San Diego and in policy positions at the U.S. State Department during the Obama Administration, UNICEF, the United Nations, and on Secretary Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign. Sara Jacobs is currently a Democratic Candidate for California’s 53rd Congressional District.

Lindsey Nitta

Lindsey Nitta is the executive director of California Women Lead, the state’s largest nonpartisan association of women leaders. California Women Lead has encouraged thousands of women to successfully run for office or apply for an appointment at the state or local level through education, training and network development.