Feminist diplomacy – United Nations – France doubles the financing of the Support Fund for Feminist Organizations (18 September 2023)

During the United Nations General Assembly High-level Week, France announced on 17 September that it will double its commitment to feminist organizations: the Support Fund for Feminist Organizations will thus benefit from €250 million over five years – more than double the previous commitment. President Emmanuel Macron announced the launch of the fund during the French G7 presidency in 2019. In the space of three years it has raised €134 million for 1,000 voluntary organizations in 75 countries. Thanks to the fund, France has become the world’s leading financer of feminist organizations.

The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Catherine Colonna, who is leading the French delegation, will take part in several key events dedicated to France’s commitment in this field, particularly one to support Afghan women and condemn their erasure from society, as imposed on them by the Taliban regime. The Minister announced a further contribution by France to the WFP to benefit Afghan women. On 20 September she will co-chair a meeting of feminist diplomatic services, together with Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Chile and Mongolia. This will provide an opportunity to launch the laboratory for the protection of women’s rights online.

On Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Acceleration Day, Mme Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, Minister of State for Development, Francophonie and International Partnerships, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, also represented Mme Colonna at the Generation Equality Midpoint Moment.

The Generation Equality Forum has raised more than €40 billion, generated 2,700 commitments to action by States, international organizations, NGOs and businesses, and launched six Action Coalitions to implement a five-year Global Acceleration Plan for Gender Equality over the period 2021-2026. France has honoured its commitments, particularly as co-champion of the Action Coalition on Bodily Autonomy and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, raising €400 million on this issue and on women’s, teenage girls’ and girls’ health.