On Monday, Chile launched the Feminist Foreign Policy Plan (PEF), marking itself the first South American country to do so.
The initiative aims to instill gender equality as a core guiding principle in the country’s Foreign Ministry operations, as announced by the Ministry.
Gloria de la Fuente, the Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, outlined at a press conference that this policy aligns with international insertion strategies needed to tackle global agenda challenges.
“Equal, diverse, and pluralistic participation in public spaces is imperative for a robust democracy,” she stated.
De la Fuente added, “Now, more than ever, Chile aspires to develop policies and actions fostering women’s autonomy and empowerment in various spheres, striving towards a more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable society.”
De la Fuente further pointed out that the plan cements Chile’s commitment to promoting human rights, which it has endorsed internationally over recent years.
Chilean Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren emphasized that a Feminist Foreign Policy’s foundation is not out of the ordinary, driven by the aspiration to create a more equal world.
“It’s an emerging paradigm, which will undoubtedly be refined, deepened, and fortified in alignment with societal progress and future challenges,” he further elaborated.
The Chilean government underscored that it is the pioneer South American nation to enact a Feminist Foreign Policy, joining the ranks of countries like France, Canada, Germany, Spain, Luxembourg, and Mexico, which have already adopted similar measures.
The policy’s key focus areas include fortifying democracy with a gender equality emphasis.
It advocates for enhanced empowerment and representation of women, progressing the women, peace, and security agenda, addressing trade and gender, climate change, science, technology, and innovation, and advancing a comprehensive care system.
The policy acknowledges that gender disparities hinder the formation of more representative democracies and impede nations’ development.
Thus, promoting equality is viewed as a legal obligation derived from global treaties that Chile has signed.
Consequently, Chile intends to foster global and regional governance by pinpointing opportunities for formulating and updating international norms that integrate a gender perspective.
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