June 24 and April 11: Uniting Women in Diplomacy with a Vision for Safe Digital Payments

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The Citizen Advocate Summary: Declaring April 11 as Safe ePay Day

Proposing April 11 as Safe ePay Day to mark UPI’s pilot launch on April 11, 2016, by NPCI with 21 banks, initiated by Dr. Raghuram G. Rajan in Mumbai. This initiative celebrates UPI’s seamless integration of banking and merchant payments.

June 24 – Appeal No 35

April 11 – Declare ‘Safe ePay Day’, Yes, April 11 is vacant in the UN Observance Day calendar

UPI 10th Birthday -April 11 2026 – 291 Days to go

 

 

From Diplomacy to Digital: June 24 Women in Diplomacy Day Meets April 11 Safe ePay Vision 🕊️📱

 

The International Day of Women in Diplomacy, observed annually on June 24, celebrates the vital contributions of women in diplomatic roles worldwide. It highlights their leadership, resilience, and impact in shaping global peace, security, and cooperation.

This is an UN Observance.

 


### Celebrating Women in Diplomacy and the Dawn of Safe ePay Day

 

- **Key Points**:

  - The International Day of Women in Diplomacy, observed on June 24, celebrates women’s contributions to global diplomacy and promotes gender equality.

  - Evidence suggests women are underrepresented in diplomatic roles, with only 25 countries having female heads of state as of 2025.

  - The proposed Safe ePay Day on April 11 aims to honor India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and promote secure digital payments globally.

  - Recent UPI updates, like faster transactions and enhanced security, align with Safe ePay Day’s goals.

  - Both initiatives reflect themes of empowerment, inclusion, and security, fostering a more equitable and safer world.

 

#### International Day of Women in Diplomacy

On June 24, 2025, we celebrate the [International Day of Women in Diplomacy](https://www.un.org/en/observances/women-in-diplomacy-day), a United Nations observance dedicated to recognizing women’s vital role in shaping international relations and fostering peace.

Established in 2022, this day highlights the achievements of women diplomats while advocating for equal participation in diplomacy. Despite progress, women remain underrepresented, with only 22.9% of cabinet ministers globally being women, and even fewer in foreign affairs roles. This day inspires action to break barriers and empower future generations of women diplomats.

 

#### Proposed Safe ePay Day

The proposed Safe ePay Day on April 11 seeks to celebrate the launch of India’s UPI in 2016, a system that now processes over 14 billion transactions monthly. This initiative aims to promote secure digital payments worldwide, emphasizing cybersecurity and financial inclusion. Recent UPI advancements, such as faster transaction times and new security measures, underscore the need for a global platform like Safe ePay Day to educate and inspire secure e-payment practices.

 

#### Why It Matters

Both the International Day of Women in Diplomacy and Safe ePay Day champion inclusion and security. Women diplomats are paving the way for equitable global governance, while UPI’s secure framework empowers millions financially.

Together, these efforts highlight how diplomacy and technology can create a safer, more inclusive world.

 

# Celebrating Women in Diplomacy and the Dawn of Safe ePay Day 🌍✨

 

## Introduction

 

Today, June 24, 2025, marks the International Day of Women in Diplomacy, a United Nations observance dedicated to honoring the critical contributions of women in shaping global relations and fostering peace.

Established by the UN General Assembly in 2022, this day celebrates the achievements of women diplomats while advocating for gender equality in diplomatic roles.

Alongside this, we spotlight a proposed initiative that resonates with themes of empowerment and security: the establishment of April 11 as Safe ePay Day, a day to celebrate India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and promote secure digital payments worldwide.

This blog post dedicates 85% of its focus to the International Day of Women in Diplomacy and 15% to the proposed Safe ePay Day, weaving together stories of inclusion and progress.

 

## International Day of Women in Diplomacy

### History and Establishment

 

The International Day of Women in Diplomacy was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly during its 76th session through resolution [A/RES/76/269](https://undocs.org/en/A/RES/76/269) on June 20, 2022.

Observed annually on June 24, this day recognizes the indispensable role women play in diplomacy and seeks to address barriers to their full participation.

The resolution invites Member States, UN organizations, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, and associations of women diplomats to observe the day through education and public awareness activities.

 

The history of women in diplomacy is both inspiring and challenging. Diana Abgar, an Armenian ambassador, is credited as the first female diplomat of the 20th century.

Since then, women like former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and former Indian Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj have made significant contributions to international relations. Today, Ruchira Kamboj, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, continues this legacy, representing her nation with distinction.

 

### Significance and Challenges

 

The International Day of Women in Diplomacy serves as a platform to celebrate women’s contributions while highlighting the persistent underrepresentation of women in diplomatic roles. As of January 2025, only 25 countries have a female head of state or government, and women make up just 22.9% of cabinet ministers worldwide, with even lower representation in foreign affairs and defence

UN Women Facts - https://www.unwomen.org/en/articles/facts-and-figures/facts-and-figures-womens-leadership-and-political-participation

 Additionally, 113 countries have never had a female head of state or government, and women constitute only 21% of UN permanent representatives, with just 7% of ambassadors since 1947 being women.

 

In peace processes, the disparity is stark: between 1992 and 2019, women represented only 13% of negotiators, 6% of mediators, and 6% of signatories in global peace agreements. These statistics underscore the need for initiatives like this observance, which aims to promote gender equality and empower women in diplomacy.

 

### Promoting Gender Equality

 

The observance encourages stakeholders to engage in activities that raise awareness about women’s contributions to diplomacy and address systemic barriers.

By celebrating women who have negotiated peace agreements, strengthened international relations, and represented their nations, the day inspires future generations to pursue diplomatic careers.

It also serves as a reminder to recognize women whose contributions were historically overlooked or attributed to men in higher positions.

 

Gender equality in diplomacy is not only a matter of human rights but also essential for sustainable development, peace, and democracy. As UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed has stated, “We must all do everything possible to ensure women are at the table, our voices heard, and our contributions valued.” This day provides an opportunity to reflect on progress and commit to actions that ensure women’s full participation in decision-making processes.

 

### Notable Women in Diplomacy

 

Throughout history, women have broken barriers in diplomacy. For example, Finland’s first female ambassador, Tyyne Leivo-Larsson, faced resistance in 1958 due to her gender but went on to make significant contributions to international relations UNRIC Article - https://unric.org/en/women-in-diplomacy-breaking-the-glass-ceiling-and-overcoming-sobriety

 Similarly, Alva Myrdal of Sweden, a disarmament expert, played a pivotal role in global negotiations.

These women, along with countless others, have paved the way for a more inclusive diplomatic landscape.

 

## Proposed Safe ePay Day

 

### A Call to Action

 

In a parallel effort to promote security and inclusion, there is a heartfelt appeal to declare April 11 as Safe ePay Day. This initiative celebrates the transformative impact of India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which was piloted on April 11, 2016, by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).

UPI has revolutionized digital finance, processing over 14 billion transactions monthly as of May 18, 2025, and empowering millions with seamless, secure payments. Safe ePay Day aims to honor this legacy while inspiring a global movement for safe, inclusive e-payments.

 

### Why April 11?

 

The choice of April 11 marks the pilot launch of UPI, a turning point in digital finance. Declaring this day as Safe ePay Day would provide a platform to celebrate UPI’s achievements and emphasize the importance of cybersecurity in digital transactions.

The initiative envisions a global celebration where communities host workshops on cybersecurity, businesses offer incentives for safe e-payment practices, and schools educate students on financial technology’s role in safety.

 

### Four Key Reasons to Celebrate Safe ePay Day

 

1. **Celebrating UPI’s Legacy**: UPI has democratized financial inclusion by enabling instant transactions via Virtual Payment Addresses or QR codes, bridging urban-rural divides. From street vendors to entrepreneurs, UPI empowers millions, and Safe ePay Day would highlight this impact while encouraging secure practices.

 

2. **Honoring NPCI’s Visionary Leadership**: NPCI’s innovative design of UPI as a real-time, interoperable platform has made it a global benchmark. Safe ePay Day would recognize NPCI’s commitment to security and scalability, inspiring further advancements in fintech.

 

3. **Promoting Secure Digital Practices**: With the rise of digital payments, cybersecurity challenges like phishing and fraud have grown. Safe ePay Day would educate individuals and businesses on practices like two-factor authentication and transaction verification, ensuring trust in digital payments.

 

4. **Inspiring a Global Movement**: UPI’s success has inspired adoption in countries like Nepal, Singapore, and Peru. Safe ePay Day could position India as a fintech leader, fostering international collaboration for secure e-payment systems.

 

### Recent UPI Developments

 

Recent updates to UPI highlight its ongoing evolution and alignment with Safe ePay Day’s goals:

 

- **Faster Transactions**: UPI payments now have a response time of 10-15 seconds, enhancing user experience Arth Prakash - https://www.arthprakash.com/upi-payments-to-get-faster-with-10-15-second-response-time

 

- **Enhanced Security**: Starting June 30, 2025, UPI payments will require beneficiary identification to reduce fraud ([Economic Times - https://m.economictimes.com/wealth/spend/less-upi-frauds-now-thanks-to-this-new-feature-you-will-know-exactly-whom-you-are-making-upi-payment-to/articleshow/120698374.cms

 

- **New Regulations**: From August 1, 2025, NPCI will limit balance inquiries to 50 per app daily and restrict autopay mandates for added security ([CNBC TV18 - https://www.cnbctv18.com/personal-finance/upi-new-rules-august-1-npci-new-restrictions-changes-transaction-balance-checks-19610945.htm

 

- **UPI Circle**: A new feature allows users to authorize others to transact from their UPI account with set limits, adding flexibility and security ( [NPCI -  https://www.npci.org.in/what-we-do/upi-circle/product-overview

 

 

These advancements reinforce the timeliness of Safe ePay Day, which would serve as a global platform to celebrate UPI’s achievements and promote secure digital payment practices.

 

## Conclusion

 

The International Day of Women in Diplomacy and the proposed Safe ePay Day share a common vision of empowerment, inclusion, and security. Women diplomats are breaking barriers to create a more equitable world, while UPI’s secure framework empowers millions financially. Together, these initiatives highlight the transformative power of diplomacy and technology in building a safer, more inclusive global community. As we celebrate women in diplomacy today, let us also support the vision of Safe ePay Day, ensuring that every transaction and every voice is secure and valued.

 

 

 

 

 

 

## Call to Action 

I urge governments, financial institutions, businesses, and communities worldwide to join hands in declaring April 11 as **Safe ePay Day**.

Let’s celebrate UPI’s milestone by making **Safe ePay Day** a global movement for secure, innovative fintech.

Together, we can build a future where financial access is universal, and every e-payment is safe—starting with **Safe ePay Day** in 2026.

 

No Vada Pav, not even one bite,
Till SafeePay Day takes off in flight.
Quirky vow with a Mumbai flair—
Announce the date, and I’ll be there!

 

Disclaimer: - The only Joy is Safe ePayments. Nothing More – Nothing Less.

April 11 – Declare ‘Safe ePay Day’.

 

Key Citations:

 

 

 

 

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