4th Ministerial Conference on Feminist Foreign Policies Concludes in Paris with Joint Declaration

Paris Hosts Global Feminist Foreign Policies Conference

The 4th Ministerial Conference on Feminist Foreign Policies concluded in Paris, France, on October 23, 2025, following two days of high-level discussions and strategic planning. Hosted by the French government, the conference gathered approximately 450 participants, including Ministers of Foreign Affairs from around 50 States, alongside representatives from international organizations, development banks, civil society, and philanthropic foundations. The event, held at the Ministerial Conference Centre (27 rue de la Convention, 75015 Paris), aimed to strengthen international efforts to advance women's rights and gender equality globally.

Joint Political Declaration Adopted

A significant outcome of the conference was the adoption of a joint political declaration, titled the 'Paris Joint Political Declaration on Achieving Gender Equality, Promoting Human Rights of All Women and Girls and Strengthening a Feminist Foreign Policy'. This declaration reaffirms the collective commitment to upholding women's rights and promoting gender equality, particularly in the face of increasing challenges and regressions.

Key commitments outlined in the declaration include:

• Respecting, protecting, promoting, and fulfilling the human rights of all women and girls, recognizing their universality, indivisibility, and interdependence.
• Combating gender-based violence as a national and international priority.
• Engaging men and boys as agents of change and beneficiaries of gender equality.

The declaration also reiterated adherence to the rule of law, democratic principles, the universality of human rights, international law, and multilateralism, emphasizing that feminist-based approaches foster sustainable, resilient, and inclusive societies and peace. Furthermore, it reaffirmed support for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goal 5, which centers on gender equality.

Discussions and Contextual Significance

Throughout the conference, four ministerial plenary sessions delved into various dimensions of feminist foreign policies, exploring their transformative power, regional perspectives, the necessity of multi-stakeholder engagement, and strategies to counter resistance and backlash. Round tables and workshops provided platforms for in-depth dialogue on the practical implementation of these policies.

The conference held particular significance as it coincided with the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the 25th anniversary of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security. These foundational documents underscore the long-standing international commitment to women's rights and their participation in public life. France, which officially adopted a feminist foreign policy in 2019 and launched its International Strategy for a Feminist Foreign Policy on March 7, 2025, hosted this fourth edition, building on previous conferences held in Germany (2022), the Netherlands (2023), and Mexico (2024).

Among the notable participants was Her Excellency Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of State from the UAE, highlighting the broad international engagement. Marja Ruotanen, Director General of Democracy and Human Dignity for the Council of Europe, addressed the critical issue of technology-facilitated violence, stating it 'is no longer an emerging issue – it is a dominant reality, one that disproportionately targets women and girls'.