On April 4, two members of parliament presented an information report on the place of women's rights in French diplomacy. The report makes 100 recommendations to the government for a "feminist diplomacy" and raises the issue of financial resources. Among the thematic priorities addressed, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) feature prominently. This high-quality report has become a reference document for advocates working on these issues.
On April 4, 2018, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly examined the report of the fact-finding mission on the place of women's rights in French diplomacy, led by MPs Laurence Dumont and Mireille Clapot. At a time when the rise of conservatism is calling into question rights that were thought to have been secured, and when the President of the Republic has declared gender equality to be a major national cause, this report calls for the affirmation of "feminist diplomacy."
100 recommendations in favor of women's rights
Based on several months of meetings and hearings, including one with Equipop, this report sets out 100 proposals aimed at making France a "leading" player in the defense of women's rights on the international stage, at all levels: bilateral, regional, and multilateral. One section, for example, is devoted to the Sahel Alliance, a new mechanism that is set to play an important role in French development policy.
In line with France's International Strategy for Gender Equality (2018-2022)unveiled on March 8, this report raises the fundamental question of the financial resources needed to effectively implement this ambitious strategy. We therefore welcome the recommendations to "allocate a budget to the new international strategy for gender equality" and to adopt a "gender-sensitive" official development assistance (ODA) target higher than the 50% envisaged in the strategy. This report highlights a target of 60% "gender-sensitive" ODA, with 15% of ODA to be used to finance projects whose main objective is the achievement of gender equality. These recommendations are in line withthose of Equipop.
Sexual and reproductive rights: a priority in the face of conservative threats
Among the key priorities identified in the report are sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), education, and combating violence against women. The report emphasizes that these issues are closely linked and must therefore be addressed in a coordinated manner. The deputies also suggest making France's presidency of the G7 in 2019 a turning point in this area.
Consequently, this information report is, on the one hand, an excellent reference document for advocacy by civil society organizations such as Equipop. On the other hand, it provides a solid basis for parliamentarians to monitor government commitments, particularly in the context of implementing the new gender strategy. This monitoring involves, among other things, reconstituting the study group on "gender and women's rights internationally" (proposal #62).
