The gender dimension of foreign policy
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Text
adopted by the Standing Committee, acting on behalf of
the Assembly, on 20 November 2020 (see Doc. 15122, report of the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination,
rapporteur: Ms Petra Stienen).
1. In recent decades, women’s rights
have been enshrined in legislation at national level and in international
treaties. The political and economic participation of women has
increased. Tangible progress has been made in various spheres and
women’s rights have been officially recognised as human rights.
The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which celebrates
its 25th anniversary this year, marked a turning point in the fight
for gender equality. The year 2020 is also the 20th anniversary
of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, which became
the normative framework for women, peace and the security agenda.
2. However, the Parliamentary Assembly regrets that full gender
equality is not yet a reality. Throughout the world, violence against
women, attacks on women’s rights and gender inequalities are still
rife. There is a revival of organised efforts, and a backlash, against
women’s rights, including sexual and reproductive health and rights.
The Assembly considers that stronger co-ordinated action at international
level is needed to promote and protect women’s rights, equality
and non-discrimination.
3. With a view to promoting inclusiveness, equality and non-discrimination
and to counter the backlash against women’s rights, several States
have launched feminist foreign policies or included a strong gender dimension
in their foreign policies. The Swedish feminist foreign policy inspired
other countries to use their foreign policies as a political tool
to promote women’s rights, inclusion and non-discrimination. Political leadership
plays an essential role to this end. Placing gender equality at
the centre of foreign policy puts forward an inclusive vision of
society and is consistent with and contributes to the implementation
of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which
has gender equality as an overarching goal and a stand-alone goal.
4. The Covid-19 pandemic, which has affected countries all around
the world, has further revealed existing and persisting inequalities.
The Assembly considers that the pandemic and its social and economic consequences
are having a disproportionately negative impact on women. In times
of crisis, women’s rights are often the first ones to be questioned
or threatened. There has been an alarming rise in domestic violence. The
Assembly therefore believes that an inclusive, co-ordinated and
gendered response to this crisis is essential to ensure that no
one is left behind. Women’s rights can never be considered non-essential
or secondary. In this regard, the Assembly welcomes the joint statement
on protecting sexual and reproductive health and rights and promoting
gender responsiveness in the Covid-19 crisis, published by 59 States
on 6 May 2020.
5. The response to the crisis can and should be used as an opportunity
to build more resilient and equal societies, grounded in participatory
and engaged democracy. The Assembly stresses that women should be an
integral part of the response to the crisis and meaningfully involved
in all decision-making processes to manage its aftermath and put
in place strategies to tackle future crises using an intersectional
approach. Sustainable peace and development cannot be achieved without
the participation of women. The inclusion of a gender and intersectional
dimension in foreign policy can be beneficial for society as a whole.
Participation, protection, inclusion and non-discrimination are
guiding principles for a strong, inclusive gender dimension of foreign
policy.
6. The Assembly recognises that men can play a crucial role in
promoting women’s rights and in advancing the gender-equality agenda.
Men in leadership positions in politics, business, media and civil
society should actively advocate for a change of mindset, challenge
gender stereotypes and promote gender mainstreaming in all policies
and measures and at all levels.
7. In light of these considerations, the Assembly calls on Council
of Europe member and observer States, as well as those enjoying
observer or partner for democracy status with the Parliamentary
Assembly, to:
7.1 engage in developing
an inclusive gender dimension of their foreign policy;
7.2 promote women’s rights and inclusion at national, bilateral
and multilateral levels and prioritise gender equality and women’s
rights during their presidencies of the United Nations Security
Council, Council of Europe and Council of the European Union and
presidencies of other international organisations;
7.3 actively promote and prioritise the equal participation
of women and men in decision making;
7.4 ensure diversity in panels at events;
7.5 make access to education for women and girls a priority;
7.6 promote the participation of women in peace operations,
negotiations and crisis management and develop national action plans
and budgets for the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution
1325;
7.7 promote, ratify and implement the Council of Europe Convention
on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic
Violence (CETS No. 210, “Istanbul Convention”);
7.8 provide political and financial support for programmes
protecting women’s rights, including sexual and reproductive health
and rights;
7.9 use gender budgeting and gender-impact assessments in
the preparation and evaluation of legislative measures and policies
as well as assistance and co-operation programmes;
7.10 invest in the collection of gender-disaggregated data
and related research;
7.11 support civil society organisations promoting and protecting
equality and women’s rights;
7.12 raise awareness of the benefits of an inclusive gender
dimension of foreign policy.
8. As regards diplomatic careers, the Assembly calls on Council
of Europe member and observer States, as well as those enjoying
observer or partner for democracy status with the Parliamentary
Assembly, to:
8.1 promote the participation
of women in diplomatic careers, including at ambassador level, and support
policy and legal measures allowing a work/life balance;
8.2 promote gender mainstreaming in the functioning of public
administrations;
8.3 promote the participation of persons from diverse backgrounds
in diplomatic careers;
8.4 provide training on gender equality, diversity and inclusion
and on combating sexism in public administrations;
8.5 ensure the participation of women in trade missions.
9. As regards the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Assembly
calls on Council of Europe member and observer States, as well as
those enjoying observer or partner for democracy status with the
Parliamentary Assembly, to:
9.1 guarantee
the participation and representation of women in all crisis-response
planning and decision making;
9.2 undertake gender-impact assessments and ensure gender
budgeting for all recovery measures and financial packages;
9.3 protect women and girls from gender-based violence;
9.4 hold public debates on the gender dimension of the Covid-19
pandemic and promote an intersectional approach to recovery plans.
10. The Assembly also calls on political leaders to take a strong
stand to protect and promote women's rights at national and international
levels and to support a gendered and inclusive approach to foreign
policy.
11. The Assembly encourages international organisations to promote
the participation of women in higher management, mainstream gender
throughout their activities and organise training on gender equality,
diversity and inclusion and on combating sexism.
