Chile has presented the Feminist Foreign Policy, led by Foreign Affairs Minister Alberto Van Klaveren, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Gloria de la Fuente and International Economic Relations Undersecretary Claudia Sanhueza. It is a strategy that reaffirms our country’s commitment to human rights and equality, in order to achieve a more inclusive and egalitarian society.
Thanks to this milestone, Chile becomes the first South American country to have such a policy, joining countries such as France, Germany, Canada, Spain, Luxembourg and Mexico.
As explained by the undersecretaries, this public policy is the result of extensive work in protecting and promoting human rights at the bilateral, multilateral and regional levels. In addition, it commits Chile to promoting actions that eliminate the obstacles impeding the progress of women and girls, in all their diversity, towards the full exercise of their autonomy and rights.
This is not a minor issue, considering that, according to the most recent data from the World Economic Forum, there remain 132 years to achieve global gender parity. This is without mentioning that Chile ranks 47th in the Global Gender Gap Report, preceded by twelve countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.
In addition, the latest report by UN Women and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) indicates that, at the current rate of progress, it will take 300 years to achieve gender equality. In particular, it is estimated that it will take up to 286 years to close existing gaps in legal protection and eliminate discriminatory laws, and at least 40 years for equal representation in national parliaments.
Background
In this context, in March 2022, the government announced that Chile would develop a Feminist Foreign Policy, in line with the commitments of President Gabriel Boric’s program. The goal would be to establish gender equality and non-discrimination as guiding principles in Chile’s foreign policy work.
The work of coordinating the Feminist Foreign Policy has aimed to make progress in two dimensions:
1. Foreign affairs dimension:
It determines Chile’s active role in various spaces at the bilateral and multilateral level, in forums and mechanisms related to advancing gender equality. The declaration of a Feminist Foreign Policy aims to promote coordinated foreign actions that respond to institutional guidelines, with defined objectives and measurable results.
2. Domestic affairs dimension:
- It recognizes the persistence of gender gaps that prevent the full participation of women in all decision-making spaces within the Foreign Affairs Ministry. In this regard, it stipulates a review of the regulations, processes and protocols, among other organizational instruments, to accelerate the implementation of the changes necessary to reduce these gaps.
- A Gender Affairs Division will be created, which will be in charge of implementing the Feminist Foreign Policy and other functions once the new regulation is approved.
- President Gabriel Boric has paid particular attention to the process of appointing ambassadors. This has increased the number of women in charge of Chile’s embassies and missions abroad, from 14 in 2021 to 27 in February 2023.
- Women ambassadors have also been appointed for the first time in a number of missions. This is the case of Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, the United Kingdom, the Mission to the United Nations in New York, and the Chilean Mission to the European Union.
- The creation of an Advisory Commission of Experts is proposed to present a strategy to authorities to make progress on gender parity by 2030, in order to provide continuity and consolidate a policy that aims for greater participation of women in decision-making spaces.
The Feminist Foreign Policy will have the following priority areas:
- Human rights and strengthening of democracy with a focus on gender equality.
- To promote the eradication of gender violence.
- Empowerment and greater representation of women.
- Women, peace and security agenda.
- Trade and gender.
- Climate change and gender.
- Digital, science, technology and innovation agenda.
- To promote a comprehensive system of care.
For more information, you can visit the website https://politicaexteriorfeminista.minrel.gob.cl/.