It’s time for a feminist foreign policy

IT’S TIME for a feminist foreign policy.

According to foreignpolicy.com, this policy consists of three laudable Rs.

The first is rights – meaning the promotion of women’s issues, including by countering gender-based violence and discrimination.

The second is representation – including support for women’s participation at all levels of decision-making from Parliament to private sector boards, to the legal system.

The last is resources – to ensure equitable allocation among people of all genders, whether in government budgets or development projects.

Five years ago, Sweden adopted this radical approach and other countries followed. South Africa needs to adopt this policy as the spate of heinous women’s rights violations and fatalities calls for this. This approach, although radical, is holistic at its core and is the kryptonite needed now and going forward.

Gender equality is critical to broader foreign-policy objectives, including economic development, prosperity and security. Although the African Women’s Development Fund was recently granted $7 million (Canadian) {R80m} as part of the Canadian government’s Feminist International Assistance Policy, if these types of major announcements continue, women’s rights organisations could be seen as the most legitimate and effective channels of local development especially in SA.

VERNON PILLAY

DA councillor