8 March 2026 | International Women’s Day Feminist foreign policy News Published on : March 06th 2026 The rights of women and girls are increasingly being undermined around the world. The international context is marked by a reactionary offensive against gender equality. France is stepping forward in response to these attacks. France’s feminist foreign policy : working to foster gender equality and the rights of women and girls The rights of women and girls are increasingly being undermined around the world. The international context is marked by a reactionary offensive against gender equality. France is stepping forward in response to these attacks. “A shameless offensive against the principle of gender equality is underway, including in multilateral bodies and online.” Éléonore Caroit, Minister Delegate for Francophonie, International Partnerships and French Nationals Abroad In 2019, France became the fourth country to adopt a feminist foreign policy, and, in March 2025, it went a step further, adopting its first International Feminist Foreign Policy Strategy (2025-2030) , asserting the key priority of gender equality in France’s international action. France’s efforts to foster gender equality and the rights of women and girls Above and beyond its strategic framework, France’s feminist foreign policy involves tangible action in international forums, where France defends ambitious positions, such as within the UN Commission on the Status of Women and within European bodies. “We are profoundly convinced that gender equality is a universal battle, and one that is not finished.” Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs France’s action also draws on structural partnerships. The Support Fund for Feminist Organizations (FSOF) was launched in 2019 and has provided €300 million in the last five years to support more than 1,400 organizations in 93 countries. These organizations are the best defence against the rise of anti-rights movements on the ground. In October 2025, France played a leading role as host of the fourth feminist foreign policy ministerial conference, bringing together more than 450 participants from 55 States and 27 international organizations to reassert the geopolitical importance of the role of women in peace processes and economic justice and of fighting masculinist discourse online. Building on this mobilization, the Laboratory for Women’s Rights Online, an online platform for collaboration and dialogue on gender and digital issues, has launched a call for projects that is open until 21 April 2026, with the theme “Artificial intelligence and technology facilitated GBV: innovating to prevent, protect and respond” (sic). All information required to apply is available on the Expertise France website. During its G7 Presidency, France will build on this momentum and bring on board its partners to ensure tangible global progress for gender equality.