Several feminist activists gathered in Vancouver, Canada, to participate in Women Deliver 2019. Among the various events that marked this conference, a roundtable discussion on June 4 was devoted to the role that the G7 could play in accelerating efforts to achieve gender equality.
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women, delivered a very clear message in her opening speech: no country has achieved gender equality. She emphasized the importance of acting collectively and building broad alliances. She congratulated France and Canada for building bridges between the two G7 presidencies, while reminding G7 countries of their duty to set an example in terms of gender equality: every step forward is a sign of hope for women around the world.
Investments in civil society are essential
Katja Iversen, Director of Women Deliver, described the goal of the 2019 Gender Equality Advisory Council: to propose a set of progressive legislative measures promoting gender equality. She emphasized the crucial role of civil society in achieving progress for women and girls. The need to build broad consensus around change towards gender equality was also highlighted by Michael Kauffman, leader of several pro-feminist networks: men must be allies, and masculinity must be questioned. Society as a whole will benefit from these developments.
The W7 movement must have a seat at the negotiating table.
Following on from Katja Iversen's message, Aurélie Gal-Regniez, director of Equipop, reiterated the demands of Women 7. Firstly, more funding for feminist organizations, more resources, but also appropriate partnership arrangements. Secondly, increased and systematic participation of women and girls in policy-making. On this second point, she explained the need and benefit for governments to move towards a genuine co-construction of public policies with feminist associations. As for the preparation of the Biarritz summit, two major challenges remain in terms of civil society participation in the G7: ensuring the participation of the W7 in the Finance Ministerial and securing an exchange with the heads of state in Biarritz.
Irmine Ayinhouton, a young feminist from West Africa, spoke on behalf of the "voiceless," all those women and girls who have no say. She reminded the audience that women and girls must be systematically involved in the development of policies that affect them and at the negotiating table, starting with the G7: "What is decided without us is decided against us!"
The meeting is scheduled to take place at the Finance Ministerial Meeting and the Biarritz Summit.
The emergence of "feminist" diplomacy and the challenges of the G7 handover in the United States
Lyric Thompson, from the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), reiterated the W7's expectations in terms of foreign policy, given that France claims to defend "feminist" diplomacy, following the example of Canada and Sweden. She highlighted a few fundamental principles, including: ensuring the participation of women and girls in decision-making bodies, supporting approaches and actions that aim for real social transformation, and increasing funding for feminist associations at all levels. She also stressed the importance of working together ahead of the handover of the French G7 presidency to the United States in 2020, particularly on the issue of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).
Continue efforts beyond the commitments made by Canada and France
The ministers responsible for gender equality in France and Canada, Marlène Schiappa and Maryam Monsef, reiterated their respective governments' commitments to making gender equality a top priority. Canada announced an increase in its official development assistance to $1.4 billion per year for women's rights and health, and the creation of a new fund to support feminist associations, making the country the leading investor in women's organizations worldwide. France, for its part, confirmed a commitment of €120 million for feminist associations.
Minister Schiappa emphasized that gender equality is a global cause. Mobilization for this cause continues, not only within the framework of the G7, but also in the run-up to the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Conference, which will be celebrated in France in July 2020.
