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How can we unite, act and resist together in order to defend gender equality and the rights of women and girls? This is the guiding question of the Fourth Ministerial Conference on Feminist Foreign Policy, which France is hosting this week. This conference brings together foreign ministers from all regions of the world, representatives of international organizations and public development banks, as well as civil society, research bodies and philanthropic foundations.

Since 2019, France has pursued a feminist foreign policy, making gender equality and women’s rights a cross-cutting priority of its external action in the fields of development, democratic governance, peace and security, and humanitarian action, among others. Yet feminist foreign policy is not just about lofty ideals; it follows through with concrete public policies and strong partnerships.

ÂÜÀòÊÓƵ has undertaken an ambitious transformation under Vision 2030, placing women’s empowerment at the core of its national modernization strategy. Over the past decade, the Kingdom has recorded unprecedented milestones: women’s participation in the workforce has more than doubled — from about 17 percent in 2016 to more than 36 percent in 2024 — while women now occupy leadership positions across government, diplomacy and business.

ÂÜÀòÊÓƵ is a key interlocutor for France in promoting women’s leadership and inclusive growth on the global stage

Audrey Lesperres

The Kingdom today has more than a dozen female ambassadors and women lead key public institutions such as the Human Rights Commission and the Saudi stock exchange Tadawul. In the private sector, Saudi women chair major companies in the fields of finance, energy and technology and make up more than 40 percent of new entrepreneurs.

Riyadh has also introduced reforms on travel, guardianship and political participation, allowing women to assume decision-making roles in line with international standards. These changes illustrate how gender equality can evolve in a context of rapid societal transformation, making ÂÜÀòÊÓƵ a key interlocutor for France in promoting women’s leadership and inclusive growth on the global stage.

France has made gender equality and defending women’s and girls’ rights a strategic and geopolitical priority in order to build just, inclusive, peaceful and sustainable societies. Research shows that the participation of women in negotiation processes increases the likelihood that a process will be sustainable by 35 percent. Similarly, policies that effectively mainstream gender equality make it possible to combat global warming more effectively, stimulate growth and strengthen the resilience of societies.

In March, France presented its International Strategy for a Feminist Foreign Policy. A central tenet of this strategy is the defense of rights and sexual and reproductive health. New priorities have been established, placing gender equality at the heart of France’s response to contemporary global challenges, including crises and conflicts, climate change, health, international finance, digital technology and artificial intelligence.

Despite these initiatives and the progress made by the international community, much remains to be done

Audrey Lesperres

As part of its feminist foreign policy, France is implementing a number of flagship initiatives, including the Support Fund for Feminist Organizations, launched in 2020 to help more than 1,400 organizations in 75 countries. Another example is the Laboratory for Women’s Rights Online, created in 2024. As the first of its kind, it offers an international platform for the exchange of ideas and serves as an incubator for projects to fight gender-based violence in the digital environment.

Despite these initiatives and the progress made by the international community, much remains to be done. According to UN Women, at the current pace of change, it would take close to 300 years to achieve real gender equality in the world.

Gender inequalities persist and in some cases are worsening. Conflict-related sexual violence rose by 50 percent from 2022 to 2023. In far too many countries, millions of women are denied the fundamental right to bodily autonomy. Wherever crises are shaking the foundations of society — in Afghanistan, Iran, Gaza, Ukraine or Sudan — it is women’s rights that are the first to suffer.

In an international context marked by a significant decline in dedicated funding and the rise of anti-rights movements, the Fourth Ministerial Conference on Feminist Foreign Policy will reaffirm our common determination to defend and promote women’s rights and gender equality and to accept no regression. Together, we will keep moving forward.

• Audrey Lesperres is Chargée d’Affaires at the French Embassy in ÂÜÀòÊÓƵ.