Chile has a Feminist Foreign Policy!
Our country becomes the first South American country to implement a Feminist Foreign Policy, joining those who already have one, such as France, Canada, Spain, Luxembourg and Mexico.
Thus, Chile advances in its commitment to human rights and equality, through our foreign policy to achieve a more inclusive society.
What is the Feminist Foreign Policy?
With the objective of establishing the principle of equality and non-discrimination as a guiding principle in the workshop of Chile's foreign policy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs began work to develop a Feminist Foreign Policy that promotes gender mainstreaming actions in with the purpose of eliminating obstacles that prevent women and girls from fully exercising their autonomy and rights.
This challenge calls upon men and women in all their diversity from a perspective of respect and promotion of human rights, understanding that achieving gender equality requires reviewing the social and institutional structures and gaps that perpetuate inequalities, both on the international arena as well as at the national level and within of the institution.
In this context, the international sphere requires a framework that allows identifying spaces for the creation and updating of legislation and policies that incorporate the gender-based approach from an intersectional perspective, recognizing that discrimination against women and girls deepens when other variables are considered, such as ethnicity, age, sexual orientation and social class, among others.
What are the priority topics?
Gender Equality Seal
The seal is an initiative promoted at the global level by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). It seeks to recognize public institutions committed to equality between men and women. This seal offers a roadmap to advance gender mainstreaming.
In June 2023, Chile’s Foreign Ministry and UNDP signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions. Once the process of implementation of the initiative is completed, an external evaluation will be conducted for its certification, thus recognizing the Undersecretariat of Foreign Affairs as a service that meets gender equality standards, a fundamental support for the implementation of the Foreign Ministry's Feminist Foreign Policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it necessary?
In order to achieve gender equality, it is necessary to review the social structures and gaps that perpetuate existing inequality, both in the international scenario, at the national level and within the Institution.
The global scenario requires the configuration of an architecture that allows the identification of spaces for the creation and updating of norms, incorporating the gender approach from an intersectional perspective, that is, recognizing that discrimination against women and girls deepens when ethnic, age and social class variables, among others, are taken into account.
How will it be implemented?
Stablishing concrete and measurable goals.
The formulation and implementation of a Feminist Foreign Policy will be the responsibility of the Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, who will lead the creation of a mechanism to monitor and implement an action plan. This mechanism should be designed in accordance with the strategic objectives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 2022-2026 and its commitments regarding gender and foreign policy.
Where will it be executed?
In foreign affairs
Multilateral agenda
Bilateral agenda
Neighboring countries
Latin America
North America, Central America and the Caribbean
Europe
Other regions
Consular agenda
In the agencies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Chilean Agency for International Development Cooperation, AGCID
Department of State Borders and Boundaries
Chilean Exports Promotion Bureau, ProChile
Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH)
In international economic relations
Trade agenda
In internal affairs
Institutionalizing gender issues
Gender budgeting
Greater participation, representation, and visibility of women
Review and reinforcement of training and education programs
Strengthening institutions, budgeting, participation, and visibility of women and challenges for gender equity
What does it prompts?
Following a dialogue with different actors—national, international, civil society and academics—the following premises have been defined for Chile’s Feminist Foreign Policy:
Chile’s Feminist Foreign Policy recognizes that gender gaps are a barrier to the full exercise of fundamental rights such as women’s participation in the building of more representative democracy; at the same time, these gaps also limit the country’s sustainable development and well-being.
It sees progress towards substantive equality as a legal obligation stemming from international treaties signed by Chile. It is also a commitment derived from multilateral instruments that reflect a consistent international track record in pursuit of this objective. It establishes gender equality as a strategic objective and a fundamental axis of the work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
It seeks to influence multilateral and bilateral bodies to strengthen global and regional governance that protects and promotes the dignity and autonomy of women and girls in all their diversity.
It is aligned with national gender equality policies and priorities.
It highlights gender equality as a democratic value and a principle that reinforces Chile’s image, status, and international recognition.
