Equipop Position Paper
Following the official launch of France's first international strategy for feminist diplomacy ( 2025-2030) on March 7, 2025, in summary form, the full text was published in October by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE). While this 60-page document is certainly in line with France's position on defending women's rights and gender equality on the international stage over the past decade, it represents a major qualitative leap forward.
It sets a very solid course in terms ofpolitical and technical intent to integrate feminist approaches into French foreign policy. Although the consistency of France's international action can be questioned in many respects, the affirmation of feminist diplomacy is a strong signal in an international environment marked by violent and coordinated attacks against gender equality and feminist movements. Despite political instability at the national level, it should enable French diplomacyto ensure the continuity of its action in this area.
For Equipop, which has been involved in advocating for the emergence of French feminist diplomacy, this is the culmination of several years of campaigning. It is also, of course, the beginning of a new process: helping to ensure that the commitments made in relation to this strategy are honored. The most pressing issue is funding: in a very unfavorable budgetary context, the short-term goal is to protect funding for feminist diplomacy from further severe cuts, and in the medium term, to get things back on track, especially when it comes to the fund that supports feminist organizations.
This position paper aims to review the process of recent years, outline the main elements contained in the new strategy, and present the challenges that arise today, with one main message: a robust framework has been established, now it's time for action!
