The Diplomat
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced this Tuesday, on the occasion of International Women’s Day in Diplomacy, that it has awarded the Isabel Oyarzábal Award to former Ibero-American Secretary General (SEGIB) Rebeca Grynspan in recognition of “her outstanding work in strengthening multilateralism and international cooperation, defending the rights of women and girls, and social inclusion in Latin America and the Caribbean.”
“This award, which is being given for the first time, was created with the purpose of highlighting and making visible the contributions of outstanding women who, through foreign action, promote a diplomacy committed to gender equality, social justice, and cooperation,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a press release. The award ceremony will be held shortly at the Ministry’s headquarters, in an event presided over by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares.
Rebeca Grynspan (San José, Costa Rica, 1955) is a Costa Rican economist and politician with a distinguished career in international organizations. She has also served as Minister of Housing and Vice President of Costa Rica (1994-1998).
She is currently Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), making her the first woman and the first Latin American citizen to hold that position.
As Ibero-American Secretary-General (2014-2021), she promoted multilateral cooperation, institutional strengthening, and the promotion of gender equality in the Ibero-American community. Additionally, at the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), she served as Associate Administrator and Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Grynspan has worked tirelessly to close structural development gaps and advance social inclusion in the region.”
The award given to Grynspan is named after Isabel Oyarzábal (1878–1974), a pioneer of Spanish feminism, the first woman to represent Spain before the League of Nations, and the first female Spanish ambassador. “A tireless defender of women’s rights, Oyarzábal embodies the values this recognition seeks to highlight: commitment, courage, and a vocation for public service,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs continued.