Western Balkans: Feminist Peacebuilding Demands Rethinking the Structures Published: 29 October 2025 Analysis In an age marked by rising authoritarianism and anti-gender backlash, feminist peace in the Western Balkans stands as both an act of resistance and a re-imagining of security itself. The Women, Peace and Security Agenda needs to be reviewed. Zorana Antonijević, Ph.D.
Women, Peace and Security Sounds Hollow in the Arab World – Now It's Time for Real Change Published: 29 October 2025 Commentary Twenty-five years after its creation, the Women, Peace and Security agenda sounds hollow in the Arab World. Our author argues for radical action – to finally place women at the helm of the institutions that claim to champion them. Lina AbiRafeh
30 years after Beijing Declaration: Reflections on the 69th Commission on the Status of Women Published: 19 June 2025 In March 2025, the world marked the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action during the 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. Halyna Kotliuk and Anna Antonina Lysiak provide an analytical reflection on the key themes discussed in New York — from women’s political participation and rising transnational conservatism to gender-based violence, child marriage, and the exclusion of demining from gender policies. Ukraine’s voice was heard internationally, showcasing both progress and challenges in the context of war. Галина Котлюк, Анна Лисяк
Declaration on the Occasion of the 69th Commission on the Status of Women Published: 20 May 2025 Declaration Eleven outstanding feminists from around the world, who where selected as 2025 Feminist Foreign and Development Policy Fellows, participated in the 69th Commission on the Status of Women at the UN Headquarters. Here they share their main considerations. Ruken Adin, Natasha Boshkova, Chim Channeang, Agustina Correa, Alinafe Irene Nonhlanhla Gama, Ouafa Haddiou, Lakshita Kanhiya, Gunel Madadli, Soumya Mishra, Sara Méndez Niebles, Olha Yashchenko
Beyond the Cuts: How the Defunding Affects Feminist and Civil Society Organizations Published: 13 March 2025 Analysis The rise of the far-right movement and recent shifts in global politics have led to significant cuts in foreign development assistance. What are the impacts on feminist and civil society organizations? Merima Šišić, Derya Binışık
Against all odds: implementing feminist approaches to international politics Published: 3 December 2024 Analysis In 2023, Germany’s Federal Foreign Office and its Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development published guidelines for a feminist foreign and development policy. Political headwinds, however, are jeopardising the implementation of the concepts. Birte Rodenberg
2025 Feminist Global Development and Foreign Policy Fellowship Published: 15 November 2024 Call for Applications Because of an overwhelming response we had to close the call for applications early. Thank you for your understanding.
Advancing gender equality: What perspective for the next EU legislative cycle? Published: 21 May 2024 Analysis With the European Parliament elections taking place between on 6-9 June 2024, the European Union stands at a defining moment. The 2019-2024 term witnessed the breakthrough of long-stagnant gender initiatives, but challenges loom large in advancing gender equality in the EU. This article explores the prospects for the policy directions that will shape the gender equality agenda of the next European Parliament and Commission in this context. Victoire Olczak
Exposing the Liberal Paradox: Feminist Foreign Policy and European migration control politics Published: 15 January 2024 ARTICLE While some Member states commit to Feminist Foreign Policy agendas, its implementation in Europe’s migration and asylum regime remains all but absent. How does Europe square the circle between Feminist Foreign Policy and border control policies? Deitra Myers
Challenges to a Coherent Implementation of a Feminist Foreign Policy Published: 22 August 2023 Commentary Feminist Foreign Policy is about more than giving women power - creating the space for intersectional understandings of power imbalances is at its core. Sabrine Dao
How Feminist Foreign Policy Can Drive Change Published: 26 July 2023 Reflection Feminist fellows from the Global South and North reflect on their study tour to explore how to best implement a feminist foreign policy. Sofiia Shevchuk
The Need for Inclusive Feminism to Achieve a Just and Sustainable Foreign and Development Policy Published: 24 July 2023 Commentary By unpacking the dimensions of power in interconnected structures of inequality, intersectionality can contribute to profound social change. Thandiwe Matthews
Why Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine Reaffirms the Importance and Urgency of Feminist Foreign Policy Published: 24 July 2023 Commentary Feminist foreign policy is not just about ensuring human security but about viewing the situation through a more holistic lens that looks at power imbalances within societies. Sofiia Shevchuk
Beyond Gender: Why Feminism Benefits Everyone Published: 24 July 2023 Commentary Feminism is everyone’s business, requiring a whole-of-society approach. It is not only women’s work, and it certainly is not a women’s club. Feminism is for anyone of any gender. Cristiana Badulescu
Exploring intersections: a feminist perspective on digital and foreign policy Published: 1 June 2023 Commentary Not even ten years after being mentioned for the very first time, feminist foreign policy has made it into the political mainstream: the guidelines ‘Shaping a Feminist Foreign Policy’ of the German Federal Foreign Office outline a strategic shift in German foreign politics. At the same time, digital policy has become more and more international. Elisa Lindinger, Julia Kloiber
Breaking Ground or Breaking Promises? Assessing the Biden Administration's Approach to a Feminist Foreign Policy Published: 30 May 2023 Capstone The election of Joe Biden as President of the United States created an opening for a gender-sensitive approach to foreign policy. Two years in, historic firsts and enduring obstacles present a mixed picture. Allegra Wirmer
True transformation or cosmetic changes? Germany's pursuit of a feminist foreign and development policy Published: 3 October 2022 Commentary At the Feminist Development Policy Conference in Berlin, the German government showed progress toward a feminist engagement with international partners. Philipp Kuehl
Trudeau’s Foreign Policy: Progressive Rhetoric, Conventional Policies Published: 25 September 2019 Analysis On October 21, Canada will head to the polls. Four years ago, Liberal Justin Trudeau was elected prime minister on the back of a cultivated progressive persona and commitments to match. Seen from Europe, Canada under Trudeau became a key partner in a global context characterised by a turn away from the rules-based international order. With Canada’s political future in the balance, Dominik Tolksdorf and Xandie Kuenning ask whether Trudeau’s record in government stands up to scrutiny and look to where Canada might be heading in the years to come. Dominik Tolksdorf , Xandie Kuenning
A roadmap for a feminist internet policy Published: 17 March 2019 Article The public space of the internet is a far more hazardous place for women and LGBTI people than for other groups. We must defend and expand it as a free space. Francesca Schmidt
Women 20 summit: Women’s empowerment should begin with tackling low wages Published: 28 April 2017 The economic empowerment and participation of women cannot be limited to promoting female entrepreneurship. Barbara Unmüßig
