National Anti-Sexism Day (January 25, 2025)

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The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs is mobilizing its efforts on this second National Anti-Sexism Day to repudiate and raise awareness about sexism. This day of observance was established last year and will be held annually on January 25. Events marking the occasion will be held in France and throughout our diplomatic and consular network.

Combating sexism is one of the commitments included in the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs’ new 2024-2026 action plan promoting gender equality in the workplace. It was signed in September 2024 by the ministry’s secretary general and unions representing ministry employees.

The 2024-2026 plan, which follows a previous three-year plan, has six focus areas:

  • All are equal: systematically raising awareness among employees about issues of equality; carrying out more proactive communications campaigns showcasing the importance of women at the Ministry; and stepping up responses to incidents of sexist behavior and sexual violence, including those occurring outside the workplace.
  • Careers and responsibilities: more actively promoting a gender-balanced workforce; continuing to strive for a balanced workplace; and guaranteeing equal access to senior positions.
  • Equal pay for equal work: reducing the pay gap, keeping in mind that the allocation of tasks is often gendered. Avoiding gender bias in procedures for paying employees and local hires and awarding bonuses.
  • Promoting a better work-life balance: Doing a better job of taking employees’ personal lives into account – among them parental responsibilities, the spouse’s situation when assigned to a new post, and respecting the number of working hours.
  • Doing a better job of making women’s health a part of employee preventive and medical care.
  • More ambitious governance: firmly embedding equality goals in all relevant processes and at every level in order to build a lasting egalitarian culture.

As part of its feminist foreign policy, France also combats sexism abroad and is working actively to fight the inequality, discrimination and gender stereotypes that perpetuate it.