BRUSSELS - The World Jewish Congress launched its Women's Partnership Program's (WPP) inaugural session on Tuesday in Brussels to recognize the importance of fostering women's professional growth and leadership within our affiliated communities worldwide in alignment with our mission to empower women. This program aims to provide a structured platform for women to access partnerships, guidance, resources, and support for their development as community leaders.
Unlike many such programs, the WJC program will be dual in nature: while younger women can undoubtedly learn from more experienced community leaders, more seasoned leaders will also have the opportunity to connect with Gen Z, glean insights into the issues concerning younger generations today, and acquire deeper knowledge of skills. Investing in these intergenerational relationships helps strengthen the WJC’s lay leadership individually and allows the organization to show its commitment to lay leadership while engaging and enriching the next generation. Under the guidance of WJC Commissioner on Gender Equality and Inclusion Marie van der Zyl OBE, three members of the Jewish Diplomatic Corps—Deborah Lichentin, Ira Rosensaft, and Marie-Sarah Seeberger—and three members of NextGen—Vittoria Bublil, Caterina Cognini and Yael Sanchez—participated in the launch of this program.
Participants were greeted by the former president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Marie van der Zyl, OBE, who shared the vision of the WPP and reflected on her experiences as a woman in public life, discussing her time as the former Board of Deputies President while balancing parenthood and a demanding career.
Senator Viviane Teitelbaum of Brussels then spoke of her own experiences as a woman in the political arena, both positive and negative, and reminded emerging leaders of the significance of persistently speaking up and speaking out. A joint Q&A session with both leaders followed. The assembled women reflected on their own various experiences in the workplace and beyond that indicated the extent to which men continue to dominate the discourse, even when the topic directly concerns women.
WJC's Executive Director of Community Affairs, Maya Cimeša Samokovlija, provided a community-based perspective on the gender-based obstacles women face while moderating a Q&A roundtable discussion.
At the conclusion of the program, the group agreed to work on a set of pledges to be endorsed by WJC and all its affiliated communities that will include commitments to support women’s greater involvement and zero tolerance of harassment.
