As diplomats, mediators, human rights defenders and community leaders, women contribute every day to preventing conflict, strengthening democratic institutions and building bridges for dialogue and understanding.
Feminist foreign policy, key to Spain's foreign action
Spain has championed and led key initiatives that put gender equality at the heart of the international agenda:
That commitment is reflected in a feminist foreign policy that has become a pillar of Spain's foreign action, as highlighted during the Fifth Ministerial Conference on Feminist Foreign Policy, held in Madrid on 2 and 3 June 2026.
A question of democracy
Progress on gender equality is not only a matter of rights, but also an essential requirement for peace, security and the quality of democracies. In that respect, Spain's foreign action mainstreams the approach, strengthening its commitment to diplomacy that is more representative, more effective and committed to human rights. The commitment is also reflected in Spanish diplomacy itself, an area where tangible progress is being made on equality:
- There was gender parity in the most recent classes of Diplomatic School graduates to the Diplomatic Service
. - For the first time, Spain has women leading both the embassy in Washington and the embassy in Beijing.
- The Ministry has established the Isabel Oyarzábal Award, in recognition of exemplary careers of women in diplomacy and international action.
Spain is thus celebrating the contribution of women to foreign action that is more inclusive and transformative. Because when women participate fully in diplomacy, peace wins, democracy is strengthened and our societies move forward.