The First Ever Feminist Foreign Policy Summit

According to Freedom House, 2021 marked the 16th consecutive year of decline in global democratic freedom. For years, the international community has witnessed wider trends of growing authoritarianism, increased militarisation, political polarisation, shrinking space for civil society, the persecution of minorities, and rising inequality. Regressing commitments to international human rights frameworks and push backs against resolutions for gender equality have created further divisions between states at the international level. Insufficient action to reduce our impact on the environment is hindering our fight against the climate crisis and climate injustice.

What has become clear in light of such trends is that the major challenges of our time cannot be addressed by “business as usual” foreign policy – or by frameworks that continue to prioritise power, domination, and the procurement of weapons over the well-being of people and our environment. Only new approaches, perspectives, and rebalanced power dynamics can achieve justice, equality, and sustainable peace.

On the 13th of April 2022, in partnership with the governments of Canada, Sweden, Mexico, and Switzerland, civil society organisations ICAN, CREA, ICRW, SUPERRR Lab, the Center for Reproductive Rights, and the Open Society Foundations, the Centre for Feminist Foreign Policy will host the first ever Feminist Foreign Policy Summit. The Summit will constitute an opportunity to:

• Bring together the leading thinkers and practitioners in the field of Feminist Foreign Policy to support the exchange of best practices, knowledge, and expertise;

• Support advocacy efforts for the uptake of Feminist Foreign Policy among new actors; and

• Take a stand against global inequality and exclusion.

Our various panels will cover topics such as climate justice, demilitarisation and disarmament, understanding and countering transnational anti-gender campaigns, decolonising foreign policy, and much much more. 

However, we won’t just start in April. Our Summit Season will begin in November 2021, with countdown satellite events taking place each month until the full event in the Spring. This is our most ambitious event series yet. We can’t wait to see you there!