Minister Asselborn Highlights Luxembourg's Commitment to Gender Equality at Berlin Conference

Luxembourg's Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Jean Asselborn, took part in the international conference "Shaping Feminist Foreign Policy" in Berlin, Germany on Monday 12 September 2022.

At the invitation of Germany's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Annalena Baerbock, this international conference brought together several foreign ministers of states practising a feminist foreign policy, representatives of international organisations and experts from civil society. While the morning working sessions allowed experts from civil society and the public sector to explore the practicalities of actively shaping the concept of feminist foreign policy, the afternoon ministerial segment was an opportunity for ministers to exchange views on issues related to the implementation of a feminist foreign policy in the current international context, particularly with regard to the exchange of good practices and the conceptualisation of possible joint initiatives to combat regressions in terms of gender equality on the international scene.

Minister Asselborn praised the organisation of this international conference which enabled the various participants to join forces in order to send a strong signal regarding the importance of gender equality and the defence of the rights of women and girls. He also welcomed the fact that the group of countries practising a feminist foreign policy (made up of six pioneering countries in this field, namely Canada, Spain, France, Luxembourg, Mexico and Sweden) has grown since the first ministerial meeting in February 2021.

This conference was also an opportunity for Minister Asselborn to recall Luxembourg's thematic priorities within the framework of its feminist foreign policy. In particular, he presented the efforts undertaken in the field of Luxembourg's migration policy and highlighted the need to adopt a gender perspective in European migration policy.

He recalled that Luxembourg is actively committed to promoting gender equality, everywhere in the world, by targeting in particular, on the one hand, human rights, including sexual and reproductive rights, and on the other hand, the representation and participation of women at all levels of society. Luxembourg diplomacy also promotes an active gender equality policy within its own structures.

"The commitment to gender equality and the promotion and protection of the rights of women and girls is a long-standing priority for my country", stated Minister Asselborn, stressing that this commitment "is part of an integral part of our external action and of our human rights policy".