Paris, October 23, 2025 – A landmark joint declaration, signed today by representatives from twenty-eight nations – including Armenia, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Kosovo, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Moldova, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Portugal, Rwanda, Slovenia, Spain, Thailand, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and Uruguay – formally reiterates and expands upon the commitment to implementing Feminist Foreign Policies. The declaration, emanating from the 4th Ministerial Conference on Feminist Foreign Policies held in Paris, solidifies a unified front on advancing gender equality as a core element of international relations and outlines a powerful, coordinated strategy for the next decade.
The document, meticulously crafted after three days of intense deliberation, responds directly to a growing sense of urgency within the international community. Recent years have witnessed a sharp reversal of progress in women’s rights across numerous nations, alongside escalating global crises – from climate change to economic instability – that disproportionately impact women and girls. As stated in the preamble, “the world faces a growing number of protracted and multidimensional crises, and at a time when international law as well as agreed norms and standards on human rights, including women’s and girls’ rights, are being challenged.” The declaration’s significance resides not just in the number of participating governments, but in the breadth of commitments it establishes – encompassing human rights, sustainable development, peace and security, and climate action.
Key Pillars of the Declaration:
- Universal Human Rights Enforcement: The core tenet of the declaration is the immediate and unwavering respect for the human rights of all women and girls, irrespective of nationality or circumstance. It stresses adherence to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and subsequent international treaties. “We call upon all States to comply with their international obligations in this regard,” a representative from the Netherlands stated during the closing plenary.
- Climate Action & Sustainable Development (SDG 5): Recognizing the inextricable link between gender equality and environmental sustainability, the declaration commits signatories to integrating gender perspectives into climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 5. This includes support for women-led environmental initiatives and ensuring women’s full participation in decision-making processes related to resource management.
- Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Agenda – Reinforcement: A reinforced commitment to the WPS agenda is central to the declaration. Beyond simply condemning gender-based violence in conflict zones, the signatories pledge to integrate gender perspectives into all aspects of peacebuilding, conflict prevention, and peacekeeping operations. Specifically, the declaration underscores the vital role of women’s full, equal, and meaningful participation in all stages of these processes, “recognizing that gender equality and the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in all their diversity in all stages of peace processes, conflict prevention, conflict resolution and peacebuilding is essential to the maintenance and promotion of international peace and security.”
- Addressing Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence: A critical addition to the declaration is a focused address to the rising threat of technology-facilitated gender-based violence, acknowledging the evolving landscape of online harassment and abuse. The signatories commit to enacting legislation and implementing strategies to combat these new forms of violence.
- Strengthening Civil Society & Women Human Rights Defenders: The declaration explicitly recognizes and defends the crucial role of civil society organizations and women human rights defenders. “We strongly oppose legal and administrative measures that reduce civic space, especially for women’s and feminist organizations,” a spokesperson from Kosovo stated.
Looking Ahead: Short-Term (6 Months) and Long-Term (5-10 Years) Outlook
Within the next six months, we anticipate a surge in coordinated diplomatic efforts, with signatory nations leveraging the declaration to advance their agendas at the United Nations and other multilateral forums. Expect increased pressure on countries with demonstrably poor records on women’s rights. Furthermore, national-level legislation reflecting the declaration’s principles is expected to gain momentum. However, significant challenges remain, including resistance from conservative political forces and persistent systemic inequalities.
Over the longer term (5-10 years), the true impact of this declaration will depend on its operationalization. A successful outcome hinges on consistent political will, significant resource allocation, and robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. Achieving SDG 5 by 2030 remains a formidable challenge, but the declaration provides a powerful framework for sustained action. It represents, fundamentally, a recalibration of international relations, emphasizing that prioritizing gender equality is not merely a moral imperative, but a strategic necessity for fostering stability, prosperity, and ultimately, a more just and secure world. The declaration is a strong statement that will hopefully lead to further action.
Call to Reflection: The Paris Joint Political Declaration signifies a renewed commitment to a world where women’s rights are not merely acknowledged but actively championed. It’s a call for each nation to examine its own policies and practices, to confront systemic inequalities, and to collaborate in a spirit of shared responsibility. Let this document serve as a catalyst for ongoing dialogue, a reminder of our collective obligation, and a benchmark against which to measure progress towards a more equitable future.