Pedro Sánchez points to feminist diplomacy as key tool to tackle global challenges

The policies of the Government of Spain in the fight against gender-based violence, the eradication of violence and discrimination, and the empowerment of women and girls, are pioneering at an international level. In this regard, the new Guide includes five priority lines of action: women, peace and security; violence against women and girls; human rights; the participation of women at a decision-making level; and economic justice and empowerment.

The President of the Government highlighted that feminist foreign policy is "a policy of actions" that will contribute to moving towards real and effective quality. "We will not turn our backs on the prevention and prosecution of such criminal offences as the trafficking of women and girls, or sexual violence in conflict areas and in humanitarian situations".

The event included the participation of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, Arancha González Laya, and speeches by Madeleine Albright, the former United States Secretary of State; Federica Mogherini, the former High Representative of the European Union; Fuencisla Clemares, CEO of Google Spain; and Mabel Lozano, actor and activist.

During her speech, Madeleine Albright congratulated the President of the Government and the minister "for their commitment to the integration of women in all spheres of the foreign policy action plan. What you are doing has a name; it is called leadership. Thanks to your vision, Spain has become a benchmark of excellence and inclusion that can serve as a model for governments around the world".

For her part, Federica Mogherini pointed to the importance of the cross-cutting approach of the Guide to achieve a real impact on women and the empowerment and participation of women in projects at all levels.

Fuencisla Clemares underlined that if men and women could join the job market under equal conditions, the positive impact would amount to 15% of GDP and create more than 2.3 million jobs. She added that, in the wake of the pandemic, digitalisation will be fundamental, "I have absolutely no doubts that the technology sector will provide a great opportunity for women".

Mabel Lozano highlighted the government's initiative to fight the trafficking of women and girls in countries across the globe.

25 years since the Beijing World Conference on Women

Foto: Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la BellacasaThe meeting served to analyse the evolution of the situation of women around the world since the UN Beijing Conference in 1995. The government, which is heavily involved in this transformation, considers the Guide to be a boost from Spain to these international commitments, which are also contained in the 2030 Agenda. Over the last 25 years, according to the UN, the number of girls who do not attend primary school and the first cycle of secondary school has dropped by half, achieving gender parity. Furthermore, maternal deaths fell by 38% around the world between 2000 and 2017.

In this regard, the President of the Government considers that stronger multilateralism is the only way to overcome the challenges facing the international community and our society "at this time in which the response and recovery in the wake of the pandemic, must be genuinely transforming".

Although the presence of women in national parliaments has doubled since 1995, they continue to be under-represented in high-level political and institutional positions. Accordingly, the Foreign Service takes on the responsibility of promoting a feminist foreign policy and Pedro Sánchez has undertaken to "ensure that 25% of ambassadorships are held by women, compared with 15% at the start of this term of office".

"We should not forget the leading women in the path undertaken and for the future. Our action must be geared towards improving their status and guaranteeing that they head up any change and strategy", concluded the President of the Government.

Non official translation