Feminist Foreign Policy (FFP)
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Discussion Background, Scope and Limita- Foreign Policy1, Canada’s Feminist International Although diversity of geography, age and ability potential for degradation of language and concepts tions Assistance Policy2 and a paper by the International were sought, representation by feminists from the associated with the phrase. They illustrated this Center for Research on Women (ICRW)³ that Middle East and North Africa as well as young with examples of the ways in which concepts such There has been increased focus in recent years on summarizes Swedish, Canadian and French feminists and feminists with diverse disabilities in as ‘empowerment’ and ‘feminism’—and even the concept of feminist foreign policy (FFP). With policies and attempts to distill a draft definition of particular was poor. Another constraint that must be ‘human rights’—are being hollowed out through the introduction of policies that call themselves feminist foreign policy for discussion. noted is that donor country voices were over-repre- token references and co-option by entities that may feminist in Sweden (2014) and France (2019), and sented. have very different interests from the women’s and a feminist international development policy in The convening began with framing remarks from human rights movements from which they originat- Canada (2017), there is a growing body of work for three speakers on existing FFPs, questions about The limited time available prevented participants ed. At the same time, this degradation was noted feminist civil society to consider and critique. The the concept of a foreign policy with feminist ideals from fully exploring all the issues and questions as a partial sign of progress; many of the core absence of a common definition or core principles and principles and what that means in practice, and that were raised. In addition to the constraints concepts of the feminist movement are gaining among existing policies is a challenge, and one that inherent tensions between feminist ideals and related to the time available at the workshop itself, mainstream attention, often accompanied by activists, academics and advocates are undertaking diplomacy, defense and trade practices among time was somewhat limited between invitations and practical gains for women’s rights. to respond to, offering ideas as to what constitutes nation states. pre-reading materials going out and the event itself. a foreign policy that is responsive to feminist visions Concerns were also raised about existing and for equality, nondiscrimination and justice. It is also Participants then broke out into small working The resulting report from the discussion is limited potential tensions and contradictions in FFP as important to stress the difference between a femi- groups to discuss FFP and the following thematic by these and other constraints, but nonetheless it practiced so far, both in the thematic discussions nist foreign policy and one that commits to and areas: 1) Women, peace and security; 2) Sexual makes a contribution in the ongoing effort to define, summarized in the sections below, as well as advances women’s rights. and reproductive health and rights; 3) Climate refine and enhance a feminist approach to foreign overarching, conceptual issues outlined here. change; 4) Women’s economic empowerment and policy globally. What follows is a report of the These constraints and contradictions were raised Feminist Foreign Policy A country’s foreign policy is of critical importance to trade; 5) Violence; and 6) Government mechanisms overarching and common themes of the discus- as challenges that need to be addressed as FFP feminists and women’s rights advocates because it to integration and financing. Through the course of sion, with breakout-group summaries attached as evolves, and as such are presented as issues that an annex. are not yet resolved or which will need to be contin- Key Principles & Accountability Mechanisms defines the parameters for the peace and security the discussion, they attempted to articulate key agenda, the trade agenda and development assis- principles that should be asserted as core to FFP, ually negotiated over time. The points summarized tance, as well as relations between nations. It and what accountability mechanisms would be Overview of the Issue below are drawn from the three opening presenta- describes the approach and positions taken in both required for an FFP to be successful. These themes tions (Dr. Gita Sen, DAWN & Distinguished Profes- bilateral and multilateral engagements. are not representative of the full range of thematic This workshop took place in the context of an sor & Director, Ramalingaswami Centre on Equity issues that could have been discussed or where emerging global discussion on the strengths and & Social Determinants of Health Public Health A Discussion Summary In service of this goal, on March 14, 2019, on the participants had expertise, which is a limitation of limitations of feminist foreign policy approaches, Foundation of India; an activist on LGBTQI issues sidelines of the 63rd United Nations Commission on the workshop and resulting report. Additionally, this informed by the rich history of women’s scholarship in China who prefers not to be named; Marie-Claire May 2019 the Status of Women, approximately 40 feminists was a small sample from which to draw large and activism. Many gains have been made towards Price, RESURJ UK) as well as a number of obser- representing a variety of civil society organizations conclusions: there was insufficient capacity to bringing women’s issues and concerns into the vations made in the group discussions. from Argentina, Australia, Botswana, Canada, accommodate all interested potential participants, mainstream. The concept of feminist foreign policy China, the Dominican Republic, Fiji, Georgia, India, and not all participants were able to attend either has the potential to build on these gains by extend- a) Tension between what is in the ‘national Kenya, the Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, the the CSW or this event given scheduling and finan- ing efforts to use the tools of foreign policy to interest’ and what serves gender equality Philippines, Russia, Sweden, the United States, the cial constraints. advance the interests of women and marginalized UK, West Papua and Zimbabwe came together to groups and call out rights abuses. While partici- Foreign policy is conventionally designed to reflect on the emergence of governments’ feminist This FFP workshop resulted in many rich discus- pants expressed a healthy skepticism about the advance the ‘national interest.’ How national inter- foreign policies and to propose core principles and sions. The workshop organizers made a conscious claims of feminist foreign policy and its potential to est is defined is the outcome of political debate, accountability mechanisms that would enhance the decision to apply a feminist critique to the hierarchy be co-opted in service of distinctly anti-feminist and usually includes a specific representation of development, refinement and delivery of these of knowledge and to place lived experience on the agendas, the shared commitment of participants to ‘national security’ as well as practices that support policies moving forward. Noting the growing interest same level as academic and policy knowledge. integrity and accountability left the organizers with robust domestic economic growth, often through by governments in developing FFPs and looking Inevitably, this meant that participants came to the a sense of ‘pragmatic optimism,’ which infuses our promotion of trade connections for domestic indus- ahead to various women’s rights anniversaries event informed by their lived experience and with approach to the workshop and its next steps. A try. It can include actions to advance national (ICPD, Beijing, UNSCR 1325), the overall goal of differing levels of familiarity with the theory of FFP driving motivation was recognition that feminist values overseas, ideally consistent with internation- the session was to begin to develop a common, and the existing suite of policies that are consid- foreign policy has potential of responding to the al treaties. These actions can include use of aid to global agenda articulating the recommendations of ered, or call themselves, feminist and the critiques growing global conservative agenda that is clawing support poverty reduction, use of diplomacy to feminist civil society and building a platform from thereof. There were a number of limitations noted back on gains made towards gender equality and encourage peaceful resolution of conflicts or which to advocate in individual country contexts for by participants, including the following: women’s rights. deployment of national military to address prob- that standard for feminist foreign policy. lems that cannot otherwise be resolved. These The diversity in the room was a benefit to the Speakers and participants raised concerns about actions can be taken on a bilateral basis or via Ahead of the convening, participants were provided discussion, but not all geographies or intersecting the risks associated with the lack of clarity around a multilateral processes. with a reading list that included Sweden’s Feminist identities were present and/or represented. shared definition of feminist foreign policy and the Historically, many interpretations of the ‘national c) Diplomacy, trade, and force whelmingly were intersectional, rooted in human The proposed principles hence represent an ideal the country or economy and its constituent