Summary

As global leaders gather in Paris for the Fourth Ministerial Conference on Feminist Foreign Policies, governments have an important opportunity—and responsibility—to demonstrate real commitment to defending and advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all.

Gender equality, peace and security cannot be achieved without guaranteeing SRHR for everyone, everywhere. A truly feminist approach to foreign policy must place SRHR at its core, backed by political will, sustainable funding and a commitment to bodily autonomy, reproductive justice and intersectionality.

To be meaningful, feminist foreign policy must be guided by international human rights standards and prioritise the full realisation of SRHR. Governments must actively promote compliance with regional and international obligations on SRHR, and stand up boldly and consistently for SRHR in any context, even when it is politically difficult. At the same time, they must uphold SRHR at home by addressing systemic inequalities and social determinants of health that undermine access to care and rights.

Global efforts

Global efforts

Global efforts should:

1. Strengthen feminist movements.
2. Ambrace diversity.
3. Adopt intersectionapproaches that reflect the realities of all women and marginalised groups.

A feminist approach must centre the voices of those on the frontlines, including women human rights defenders, feminist organisations and communities most affected by inequality, ensuring that policies reflect their lived experiences and needs. This requires sustained political and financial support for their work, particularly for grassroots organisations and defenders operating in restrictive or high-risk environments.

Feminist foreign policy

Feminist foreign policy

Finally, feminist foreign policy must be anchored in accountability. Advancing SRHR means taking coordinated and decisive action against the growing backlash against gender equality while also addressing systemic inequalities in power relations rooted in colonisation and imperialism. Governments, in collaboration with affected communities, should establish comprehensive implementation frameworks with clear goals and transparent reporting mechanisms. These commitments must also extend to humanitarian contexts, where violations of SRHR must be met with accountability, remedy and reparation.

The Paris Conference

The Center joins partners at the Paris conference

At the Paris conference, the Center will join partners and allies in reaffirming that safeguarding SRHR is essential to building just, inclusive and sustainable societies, and that feminist foreign policy remains a vital tool to defend and advance these universal rights.

To learn more about our recommendations for embedding SRHR within feminist foreign policy, see our Fact Sheet: Feminist Foreign Policy and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.

The Center is co-hosting a roundtable discussion on “Feminist Diplomacy: Driving Force and Bulwark for SRHR” (23 October, 13:45-14:45), together with Amnesty International France, Equipop, Ipas, Fos Feminista, Guttmacher Institute, Médecins du Monde, Mesa por la Vida y la Salud de las Mujeres and Le Planning Familial.

The discussion will bring together government and civil society voices to explore how feminist foreign policies can serve as a critical bulwark against rollbacks on SRHR, while driving forward progress on bodily autonomy, reproductive justice and intersectionality.