Advocacy

Analysis of feminist approaches in development policy by Dr. Birte Rodenberg

Dr. Birte Rodenberg, esteemed board member of GenderCC, has recently penned a comprehensive analysis on the intersection of Germany's feminist foreign policy and the concurrent strategy on feminist development policy initiated by the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). In her insightful examination, Dr. Rodenberg delves into the nuanced landscape of international development institutions, unraveling pivotal moments in the ongoing dialogue surrounding gender policy. She navigates the intricate interplay between these two significant policy frameworks, shedding light on the evolution of gender considerations in the realm of global development. This analysis serves as a valuable resource for those seeking a deeper understanding of the dynamic and interconnected initiatives shaping contemporary gender-inclusive policies on both national and international fronts.

Access the analysis here. The document is also available in German.

Joint oral statement by GenderCC and WECF with reference to Chapter 7 (International WHR) of the Alternative Report of the CEDAW Alliance Germany Including a statement on behalf of Feminists for a People's Vaccine Campaign (DAWN/ IWRAW AP/ TWN)

Gender CC and WECF (Women Engage for a Common Future) have published a joint oral statement with reference to Chapter 7 (International WHR) of the Alternative Report of the CEDAW Alliance Germany including a statement on behalf of Feminists for a People’s Vaccine Campaign (DAWN / IWRAW AP / TWN) to the 85th Session of the CEDAW Committee to consider the Ninth Periodic State Report by the Federal Republic of Germany on the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Alternative Reports submitted by the respective NGOs.

We, Gender CC and WECF, as members of the German CEDAW Alliance, acknowledge the strategic advancement towards a transformative feminist approach framed by the feminist guidelines for Germany’s foreign and development policies.

However, we are deeply concerned about a severe lack of ambition and action, funding and policy coherence in core economic and ecological areas of its extraterritorial obligations:
- Firstly: The German Government must live up to its committed leadership responsibility within the Action Coalition on Economic Justice and Rights and promote Generation Equality within the Global Acceleration Plan.
- Secondly: Climate impacts are serious threats to women’s* and Black, Indigenous and People of Colour’s (BIPoC) human rights as protected under CEDAW. To be in line with the Paris Agreement, Germany must reduce emissions by 70% domestically. Yet, its current domestic policy, e.g. in the transport sector falls far behind. We therefore request the Committee to urge Germany to live up to national laws and international commitments and to provide the new feminist principles as a whole-of-government approach with the necessary resources in the budget and in climate finance.
- Thirdly, Germany’s economic interests, especially the extraction of fossil energy sources is at the expense of local communities and women*. We respectfully request the committee to urge the German Government to consistently pursue the phase-out of fossil energy and not to shift it to countries of the Global South, to ensure Germany’s environmental due diligence throughout all extraterritorial projects, as stipulated in the UN Guiding Principles on business and Human Rights, and to protect human rights of environmental journalists and human rights defenders, especially of Black, Indigenous and Women of Colour.

Finally, on behalf of Feminists for a People’s Vaccine Campaign, we want to stress that covid’s gendered impact is not over. Intellectual Property barriers preventing quitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics are a key cause. We therefore urge Germany to support the promised extension of the 2022 TRIPS Decision to therapeutics and diagnostics to facilitate timely access, to withdraw its opposition at critical forums, like WTO and EU1, and be consistent with its Feminist Foreign Policy aspirations, principles and extraterritorial accountability.