Equipop Position Paper
Since 1993, Equipop has been advocating for the integration of gender approaches and feminist principles into French foreign policy, in a process of co-construction and monitoring of public policies. Maintained alongside other associations, this regular dialogue with the government has greatly contributed to the emergence of the objective of promoting " feminist diplomacy " announced by the French government in 2019.
This document is being published ahead of the release of the first feminist diplomacy strategy by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, but it will remain relevant after the official launch. Its purpose is to outline the expectations of French feminist foreign policy, or "feminist diplomacy," from Equipop's perspective. The recommendations developed here are therefore intended to support the thinking of high-level decision-makers (cabinets, sectoral directorates), parliamentarians, etc., and to encourage action.
Pursuing a truly feminist foreign policy requires strong political will, but also a constant search for relatively complex balances. Like any public policy, feminist foreign policy must be discussed and evaluated within the various institutions of the French Republic, as well as in associations, the media, and research circles. In short, the subject must be part of public debate, especially since it has only been around for a decade. It is a tool that is still being developed and must be strengthened, refined, and enriched by various actors.
This document aims to contribute to this process. It is based on Equipop's experience in France, both as an observer of foreign policy and as a project leader, but also on numerous exchanges with various partners, such as feminist activists in West Africa and associative networks such as Walking the Talk, Countdown 2030 Europe, and Coordination SUD, among others. Finally, Equipop co-chairs the international commission of the High Council for Gender Equality (HCE), the body currently responsible for evaluating the implementation of French feminist diplomacy.
