Advancing the WPS Agenda: Ambassador Jacqueline O’Neill’s Visit to Lisbon

In a moment of increasing complexity for transatlantic security and defence policy, The Diplomat’s Cabinet was honoured to help coordinate the visit of Ambassador Jacqueline O’Neill, Canada’s Ambassador for Women, Peace and Security (WPS), to Lisbon, in September 2024.

A long-standing leader in the global WPS movement, Ambassador O’Neill’s presence in Portugal marked a milestone for local stakeholders engaged in advancing equality and human security as core policymaking pillars. This visit came at a time when NATO and European allies are reassessing the role of gender in collective defence — making the Lisbon stop not only timely but essential.

In partnership with the Embassy of Canada in Portugal, The Diplomat’s Cabinet co-organised a series of engagements, including an in-person conference with diplomats, policymakers and academics, and bilateral meetings with civil society organisations, working across the equality agenda.

The discussions held throughout the visit touched on the operationalisation of UNSCR 1325, the role of women in post-conflict recovery, and the need to better integrate the gender perspective in security policy — from NATO frameworks to local governance.

The significance of this visit was also recognised by national media. The Diplomat’s Cabinet supported efforts to bring visibility to the WPS agenda, including through an interview with Ambassador O’Neill published in Expresso, one of Portugal’s leading news outlets:

📄 “Mulheres ajudam a reduzir ângulos mortos na resolução de conflitos” – Expresso

This visit reaffirmed The Diplomat’s Cabinet’s commitment to the WPS agenda and to creating spaces where gender equality is not an afterthought — but a cornerstone of sustainable peace and global leadership.