At the event, we will discuss the possibilities and realities of feminist foreign policy with regard to countries in the Middle East. How can feminist foreign policy be effectively designed and implemented to ensure that it truly empowers women and marginalised groups in conflict regions, and does not just serve political rhetoric or get co-opted by existing power structures? What specific expectations do Iranian, Arab or Afghan activists have of a feminist foreign policy in the Global North? How can feminist activists be supported in their fight against violence and oppression? What are the criticisms, but also the opportunities for a feminist foreign policy in the context of multiple crises and armed conflicts?
Numerous states, such as Germany, Canada and Mexico, have decided to make their foreign policy feminist in recent years. Although the individual concepts differ, they have in common that they place the rights of women and marginalised groups at the centre of their foreign policy and want to strengthen their representation. Feminist foreign policies aim to overcome global power inequalities and to take responsibility and accountability for their actions. In principle, a feminist foreign policy should be a peace policy that is based on an expanded concept of security. Feminist foreign policies could thus be an opportunity for feminist and women's rights organisations to obtain more funding and be involved in decision-making processes. At the same time, however, there is a risk that they will be co-opted.
Speakers
Barbara Mittelhammer
is an independent political analyst, consultant and mediator. Her research focuses on human security, gender in peace and security agenda, feminist foreign policy and the role of civil society in shaping foreign policy. She has published on feminist foreign policy towards Iran and Syria and has worked with think tanks, international organisations, ministries and parliaments.
Horia Mosadiq
is an Afghan human rights defender and journalist with nearly 30 years of experience in Afghanistan and South Asia. She is known for her work in the fields of human rights, peace and gender equality and has received numerous awards, including Afghanistan's National Human Rights Award, a Glamour magazine honourable mention and an Amnesty International award. Mosadiq has held important positions in Amnesty International, the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission and various international organisations. Her extensive work includes research, advocacy and published articles on human rights, gender issues and transitional justice.
Diba Mirzaei
is a doctoral candidate at the University of Hamburg and a researcher at the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA) in Hamburg. Her doctoral thesis deals with Iranian foreign policy towards Saudi Arabia in the 1970s and the US influence on these relations. Her research interests include Iranian foreign policy and feminist foreign policy. She publishes and lectures on both topics. Most recently, for example, she taught a course on Iranian foreign policy since the 1970s at the University of Hamburg.
Moderator: Tyma Kraitt
was born in Baghdad and now lives in Austria, where she also grew up. She studied philosophy at the University of Vienna and has already published several books on Syria and Iraq as well as a large number of foreign policy texts as part of her journalistic activities. Her most recent publication is the book ‘Sunnis against Shiites. On the Construction of a Religious War.’
Opening: Michael Fanizadeh
is a political scientist. His areas of work at VIDC Global Dialogue are migration and development, human rights and anti-discrimination with a regional focus on the Middle East.