The Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Liberia, Cllr. Deweh E. Gray has showcased Liberia’s commitment to a feminist foreign policy at the III International Conference on Feminist Foreign Policy held in Mexico City on July 1-3, 2024.
The conference gathered representatives from governments committed to incorporating a gender perspective in international relations, either through the adoption of respective Feminist Foreign Policies (FFPs) or by strengthening gender equality within their foreign policies. During the event, participants reaffirmed their nations’ responsibilities towards gender equality, non-discrimination, and respect for diversity as fundamental human rights principles.
These are seen as necessary conditions for fulfilling the objectives of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and essential for achieving equitable, prosperous, peaceful, and sustainable societies.
Deputy Minister Gray highlighted Liberia’s dedication to mainstreaming gender perspectives into all development efforts and complying with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly SDG 5, which focuses on achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women, young women, and girls in their diversity.
Deputy Minister Gray emphasized Liberia’s ongoing commitment to these principles and the importance of collective action in achieving a better, more equitable future for all.
Key commitments from the conference included advancing gender-responsive reforms to reshape financial and economic systems, prioritizing sustainability, climate justice, and peace; designing gender-responsive fiscal and budgetary policies that address the rights of all women, young women, and girls, including their involvement in decision-making; reaffirming the role of women in conflict prevention and resolution, mediation, and peacebuilding, emphasizing their full and meaningful participation in these efforts and eliminating the gender digital divide by ensuring equal access to technology and promoting women’s skills and leadership in science, technology, and digital cooperation.
Others are incorporating the voices of youth, particularly young women and girls, in decision-making processes related to foreign policy; promoting conditions that allow women, young women, and girls to participate fully and effectively in public life and eradicating gender stereotypes and all forms of discrimination and violence; including intersectional, intercultural, and intergenerational perspectives in feminist foreign policy design and implementation; promoting South-South and triangular cooperation to eradicate gender inequality and gender-based violence; strengthening mechanisms for participation and collaboration with civil society, particularly women’s and feminist organizations and continuing joint cooperation and collaboration within the United Nations System and other international forums to enhance efforts towards substantive gender equality.
