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The Feminist Foreign Policy (FPP) Movement

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March 16, 2023

Why in news?

Germany has recently introduced new feminist guidelines that will guide its diplomacy and developmental goals and increasing FPP across the world.

What is FPP?

  • FPP - There is no singular, cohesive definition of a “feminist foreign policy” for governments.
  • FPP defines that women to be included in foreign diplomacy to promote international peace.
  • The FPP calls for the state to promote good practices to achieve gender equality and to guarantee all women their human rights through diplomatic relationships.

Feminist foreign policy is a concept evolved by Margot Wallstrom, former Swedish Foreign minister

What is the need for feminist foreign policy?

  • To overcome the Systemic and structural subordination and marginalization of women that characterize the lives of countless women across the world.
  • FPP to ensure people “have the same right to representation and access to resources”.
  • FBB mandates that gender equality to be corner stone of every diplomatic engagement, reiterating that women, girls and marginalized groups must be protected from violence.
  • FBB prioritizes equal treatment and equal opportunity, while being gender-responsive across policies.
  • The adoption of FFP by the South Asian nations will enhance gender equality within the region and beyond.

What is Status of FPP in India?

  • Women account for only 16% of the Indian Foreign Service and only 18% of top leadership positions in embassies around the world.
  • Indian foreign policy lacks gender-inclusive and need to adopt a feminist foreign policy (FFP) framework.
  • An all-woman police force from India was deployed under the aegis of the United Nations (UN) in Liberia back in 2007.
  • Global Gender Gap Index 2022 – India ranks 135.

What is the status of FPP across the world?  

  • There are currently three countries whose foreign policies are explicitly feminist: Sweden, Canada and France as of march 2019.
  • Sweden, Canada, The Netherlands, and Mexico are countries which have adopted FPP framework.

What are the criticism of FPP?

  • Sweden, for instance, faced criticism for its binary focus on women, and not people of all genders
  • The countries (Canada, Sweden and Germany) having FPP also carry arms trade in other hand which is against FPP.
  • The investments made to promote FPP only benefit the private firms and doesn’t yield the intended aims and goals.
  • Lack of funds for FPP
  • Ambiguity in the definition of FPP.
  • Lack of consensus in the international forums about FPP.

United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) 1325 focus on raising the status of women and mainstreaming gender.

Sustainable development goals 5 - Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

References

  1. The Hindu| The feminist foreign policy movement
  2. UN DESA | Goal 5
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