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Concepts

Feminist Foreign Policy and its priorities(1)

Feminist Foreign Policy aims to understand the connections between gender-based violence, social oppression, and armed conflicts. It seeks to incorporate the perspectives of all individuals in an effort to prevent conflict and build peace. This involves engaging diverse groups and addressing the unique needs of those affected. The primary focus is to ensure human security and promote social justice, with the protection of human rights at its centre.

Resolution 1325(2)

Resolution 1325, adopted by the UN Security Council in 2000 under the Women, Peace, and Security agenda, was a landmark in recognizing the role of women in armed conflicts. Prompted by the gender-specific and sexual violence observed in conflicts such as in Rwanda and Bosnia, this resolution commits signatory states to prevent conflicts, protect women and girls from sexual violence during wars, and ensure their equal participation in peacekeeping efforts.

Rape as a weapon of war(3)

In times of war, existing peacetime discriminations are intensified, including structural discrimination and sexism against girls and women. Gender-based violence, intersecting with racism and homophobia, is part of many women’s daily lives and is integral to patriarchal power structures. Sexual violence intensifies during armed conflicts because it is tolerated during peacetime.

Sexualized wartime violence gained international political attention following the conflicts in Bosnia and Rwanda. In 2008, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1820, recognizing sexual violence as a weapon of war and declaring rape and other forms of sexual violence as war crimes. The resolution also calls on UN member states to document sexually violent crimes during and after armed conflicts.

Women in conflict prevention(4)

The participation of women in conflict prevention is widely recognized as essential for success. Their involvement improves operational effectiveness, helps prevent radicalization, and accelerates economic recovery. Studies show that peace agreements are more likely to last when women are involved in their negotiation and implementation. However, despite these benefits, women remain significantly underrepresented in peace negotiations, with only a small fraction of peace agreements being signed by women. Therefore, implementing feminist foreign policies is crucial for achieving sustainable peace and social justice.

Masculinism(5)

Masculinism (not to be confused with masculism, which is the men’s rights movement) is an ideology or belief system which elevates the traits and activities a given society has associated with masculinity, over those it has deemed feminine. One of masculinism’s main features is that it denies that gender–and other systems of social hierarchy–are socially constructed. Hence, it naturalizes and depoliticizes gender-based power relations, as well as those rooted in racism and classism amongst others. On a societal level this means that understandings of good political practice and leadership become associated with ‚masculine‘ traits and our politics often center around militarism and economic competition or growth, rather than ‚feminine‘ approaches like welfare and negotiation.

Agenda 2030 (SDG 5 & 16)(6)

Agenda 2030, also known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), is a comprehensive plan adopted by the United Nations in September 2015 to tackle global challenges and promote sustainable development. It includes 17 interconnected goals and 169 targets addressing areas such as poverty eradication, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean 9

energy, sustainable cities, climate action, and peace and justice. SDG 5 in particular addresses achieving gender equality as well as empowering women and girls. SDG 16 focuses on the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, while also providing access to justice for all and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.7

The primary objective of Agenda 2030 is to ensure inclusive and equitable development that leaves no one behind while safeguarding the planet for future generations. It represents a universal commitment by UN member states to work together towards achieving these goals by 2030. The SDGs serve as a roadmap for governments, organizations, and individuals to guide their actions and investments toward a more sustainable and prosperous world.

Istanbul Convention(7)

The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, commonly known as the Istanbul Convention, recognizes gender-based violence as a violation of women’s human rights. By using the term ‚gender‘, the Convention highlights how violence against women arises from societal perceptions, stereotypes, and roles attributed to one’s designated sex. By defining and criminalizing various forms of gender-based violence, the Istanbul Convention establishes comprehensive standards for prevention, protection, and prosecution. This treaty provides a legal framework to prevent gender-based and domestic violence, obligating all ratifying nations to adhere to its provisions.

As of 2024, 38 countries have ratified the Convention, including Luxembourg, which ratified it in 2018. A significant milestone in the fight against violence towards women and girls was the European Union’s addition to the Convention in 2023.

CEDAW(8)

Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1979, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) came into force in 1981. This landmark treaty addresses systemic discrimination against women, holding nations accountable to ensure gender equality. It defines discrimination against women as:

‚Any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field.‘

As of 2024, CEDAW has been ratified by 189 countries, with Luxembourg ratifying the treaty in 1989.

Sources:

(1) https://centreforfeministforeignpolicy.org/2022/11/15/the-feminist-foreign-policy-reading-list/

(2) https://www.unwomen.org/en/docs/2000/10/un-security-council-resolution-1325

(3) https://www.unwomen.org/en/docs/2008/6/un-security-council-resolution-1820

(4) https://wps.unwomen.org/participation/

(5) Sisson Runyan, A. & Spike Peterson, V. (2014). Global Gender Issues in the New Millennium. Routledge.

(6) https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda

(7) https://www.coe.int/fr/web/gender-matters/council-of-europe-convention-on-preventing-and-combating-violence-against-women-and-domestic-violence

(8) https://www.ohchr.org/fr/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention-elimination-all-forms-discrimination-against-women