The announcement was made at the opening of the fourth Conference of Feminist Diplomacies, organised by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The event brings together around 450 participants from 50 countries, multilateral organisations, civil society and the research community in Paris to promote a diplomacy centred on gender equality, women’s rights and global justice. Minister Albares was invited to take part as a representative of an allied State recognised for its leadership in this field.
The minister stated that the Feminist Foreign Policy “is today one of the key priorities of our country’s international projection, as recognised in our 2025-2028 Foreign Action Strategy”, and stressed that it permeates every area of Spain’s foreign action - from cooperation and peace to development, security and climate.
In this context, the minister highlighted some of Spain’s initiatives, including the reception and protection of Afghan women persecuted by the Taliban regime, the promotion of their political participation, through political dialogue platforms such as HearUs, or the provision of services, via Spain’s network of consulates and embassies, to Spanish women who have experienced gender-based violence abroad, which assists hundreds of women every year.
Similarly, Albares stated that, through the coordination of the Ambassador-at-Large for Feminist Foreign Policy, Spain will soon have a new National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, which will strengthen institutional coordination and civil society participation in this area, as well as with the first Feminist Cooperation Strategy, which will consolidate Spain’s commitment to equality in the field of international development cooperation.
In his opening remarks, Minister Albares linked attacks on feminism to the rise of extremism: “Those who attack democracy also attack feminism and the principles of equality, citizenship and justice on which it is founded”, and he emphasised that “upholding and defending feminism today is also defending democracy”.
Gender parity in the foreign service
The minister reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to the full participation of women in all areas of public life, highlighting that this means “moving towards genuine parity, towards the full, equal and meaningful presence of women in leadership and decision-making positions”. He illustrated the realisation of these advances with the appointment of two women as ambassadors to Washington and Beijing, the two leading global powers, the increased presence of women heading Directorates-General and State Secretariats, as well as gender-balanced new diplomatic service intakes.
Albares emphasised that gender parity must also be reflected in international organisations, “where glass ceilings still exist”, and stressed that “the time has come for the United Nations to have a female Secretary-General”.
For images of the event, click here.
—NON OFFICIAL TRANSLATION—