New reports share core principles of a feminist foreign policy

As a member of the Feminist Foreign Policy Working Group, Inter Pares is pleased to share two new reports highlighting our aspirations for Canada’s feminist foreign policy. What We Heard: Feedback from discussions on Canada’s feminist foreign policy and Be Brave, Be Bold: Recommendations for Canada’s feminist foreign policy capture the expertise and expectations of Canadians and civil society organizations on this issue. The reports are released ahead of the Government of Canada’s anticipated launch of its feminist foreign policy in Spring 2021.

What We Heard is the result of rich input from the public and a variety of organizations who have articulated what a feminist foreign policy means to them, and what Canada can do to facilitate its implementation, once launched. The Feminist Foreign Policy Working Group facilitated this process with the hope that feedback informs the forthcoming articulation of Canada’s feminist foreign policy.

Be Brave, Be Bold is the official submission to the government of Canada on its feminist foreign policy by the Working Group. As part of Inter Pares’ contribution, co-manager Rita Morbia details four specific recommendations for Canada in Strengthening Feminism in the Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP), a chapter in Be Brave, Be Bold. These recommendations include:

1. Recognize and redress aid as a colonial structure;
2. Reorient the section of the FIAP on “Growth that Works for Everyone” to “Dismantling Inequality”;
3. Accelerate the implementation of feminist processes in disbursing international assistance; and,
4. Continue to prioritize sexual and reproductive health and rights, including advocacy in Canada’s international assistance programming.

The Feminist Foreign Policy Working Group includes Above Ground, Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights, Amnesty International Canada, The Equality Fund, Equitas, Inter Pares, Mines Action Canada, Oxfam Canada, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, and individuals from the University of Ottawa and Carleton University.