28 November 2021, NIICE Commentary 7525
Ruby Khadgi
The inclusive dimension of Feminist foreign policy and its implications on policymaking is an interesting and proactive framework that has the potential to be applied towards states like Nepal, which continue to recalibrate their foreign policy trajectories.
There is a growing concern that the feminist foreign policy and the gender mainstreaming in foreign policy is only about women. However, it is important to note that this theoretical perspective does not only revolve around women, but also about creating an inclusive platform for marginalized voices to contribute to policymaking. Moreover, the need to understand feminism beyond the binary definition of “feminist” is crucial to be able to maximize the awareness and relevance of the framework. While we may be at the initial stages of understanding the concept of gender mainstreaming and foreign policy, we must underscore that enhancing the representation of marginalized and minority communities can be done through a Feminist Foreign Policy approach.
While much of the conversation regarding gender mainstreaming is confined to the realm of participation on the numbers, statistics, and degree of tokenism, the quality and impact of inclusivity is often compromised, which results in the lack of major policy changes. For instance, if women are included in the panel discussion, unfortunately it’s the check-in box. It must be emphasized that inclusivity, in this case, of women must not only be seen at initial conversation but throughout the discussion as an equal stakeholder who can effectively contribute.
When promoting the need for feminist foreign policy in Nepal, the common mindset tends to be drawn back by the patriarchal traditional values, which unfortunately does not greatly favor women. When a gender lens is applied, it further incorporates other groups that are in the lower rank of the hierarchy in terms of decision making influence. Utilizing a Feminist foreign policy can allow us to apply the Human Rights Principal Aspects since we are empowering and elevating the voice and rights of marginalized members of the community.
Meanwhile, we can’t deny that Nepal has come a long way since the past decade when it comes to ensuring the representation of women in both political and administrative affairs. We have seen very strong female leadership in the country; however, its further steps need to be taken to incorporate their voices towards actual policymaking. Likewise, the number of women in the Foreign Service has also increased over the years; however, looking critically, women officers in the Foreign Ministry are mostly confined to the protocol section, which employs a rather stereotypical evaluation of their work and abilities.
Foreign Policy stretches out to other realms as well. This includes attention towards the labor market to export human resources – women make up a crucial part of the percentage of migrant workers. A feminist approach will further the cause of ensuring proper and inclusive security for women migrant workers, while also incorporating the dynamics of economic gains and development. A feminist foreign policy will therefore promote inclusive strategies for safeguarding the rights of all individuals and create a platform for equity among the minority in the communities. By applying such a framework for foreign policy, the level of cross border migration and the movement of human capital will be more effective, secure, inclusive, and efficient.
Against this backdrop, Nepal’s patriarchal cultural practices must also be taken into analysis. In July 2021, a policy was that banned women with children under the age of two from going for foreign employment were made. This clearly explains why the causal link between the absence of women in policy-making positions and its implications on the marginalization of women outside their homes. Nepal must consider incorporating a feminist foreign policy in order to broaden the economic, security, and political opportunities of the country by including marginalized groups into the discussion table.
In major cities like Kathmandu, there are discussions on Gender-Based Violence and Sexual harassment, but in the rural areas, women are barely aware of such concepts. During one of my projects with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), I was in Sudurpaschim Province, one of the most rural areas of Nepal, where women rarely came out of their houses without asking their husband or their in-laws. This restiveness and constrain on women will have adverse effects on the overall level of poverty, education, health, and mental stability of the community in that area. This may result in a negative spill-over, which can harm the global image and level of development of the country.
The asymmetric level of awareness is a critical factor and must be addressed immediately. Therefore, the feminist and gender lens allows for more recalibration towards an inclusive and more socially-developed level of community. However, much more needs to be done before achieving such a level. Mainstreaming awareness campaigns throughout the country and the importance of consistency are significant elements to this process. Moreover, applying best practices from other countries who have also applied such a framework can also be beneficial. If Nepal pursues a more robust feminist foreign policy and proactively takes steps to ensure the effectiveness of increased representation, it will have the potential to significantly transform its global image, which can increase the level of economic and political gains.
Ruby Khadgi is a legal consultant for A2J Project at United Nations Development Programme.
