Debora Lepre
Ambassador, Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Italy to the International Organizations in Vienna
Debora Lepre

As a founding member of the Italian Women Diplomats Association, I have been a strong advocate for gender equality and women’s empowerment throughout my career. I am not afraid to be ambitious and I firmly believe that women can and should achieve as much as men. It is key to show the new generations that there is a different, fair and constructive way for women and men to contribute together to the transformative processes of our societies.

Through joint efforts and constant commitment, we can make it here with the Vienna-based Organisations. As an International Gender Champion, I will strongly engage to promote a credible change.

I support the IGC Panel Parity Pledge.

I support the IGC gender-based violence pledge.

Personal Commitments

I commit to continuing to promote gender mainstreaming across the work of Vienna-based Organizations, including through initiatives planned in 2026 under Italy’s Presidency of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, as well as on the occasion of the first UNIDO International Day of Women in Industry. In these contexts, I will advocate for the systematic integration of a gender perspective in programmes, events and institutional processes, while working constructively with all Member States to safeguard progress on gender equality in full respect of UN values and mandates.
In 2026, I commit to further strengthening Italy’s political and financial support for women’s empowerment policies promoted by the Vienna-based Organizations, with a specific focus on young women and early-career professionals. I will support concrete initiatives aimed at increasing women’s participation and leadership in STEM disciplines, including through partnerships between VBOs, Italian universities, research institutions and relevant private-sector stakeholders, with the objective of fostering mentoring, skills development and professional growth opportunities in line with UN priorities on gender equality and sustainable development.