Perspectives on Feminist Health Diplomacy

Newsletter Edition #245 [The Files In-Depth]

Hi,

It is only on rare occasions that I can follow a story of my choice. After all, we are to a large extent dictated by the news cycle, and reader preferences. So indulge me on this important story.

In this edition, we bring you an analysis of feminist health diplomacy. I wanted to explore what feminist health diplomacy is, and what it should be. For this story we spoke to several former and current health diplomats.

The topic also assumes greater significance in light of the forthcoming challenges in the politics and practice around sexual and reproductive health in many countries in the world, including the United States.

We understand feminist approaches in general, as efforts towards social, political, economic equality of all genders. For the purposes of this story, the discussion centers around the role of women and their leadership in health diplomacy.

The findings are universal. Do keep in mind though, that there are generalizations in the way women and men interact and work. But this does provide relevant pointers for reflection.

I am grateful for those who took the time to speak with me on this.

This story has been many months in the making. We’d love to hear from you - what do you think? Tell us!

Thank you for reading.

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Cheers.

Priti

Feel free to write to us: genevahealthfiles@gmail.com

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Illustration Credit: Amy Clarke, Chembe Collaborative

I. ANALYSIS

Perspectives on Feminist Health Diplomacy

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There was exasperation in the air, coupled with the usual hullabaloo that accompanies the proceedings of the World Health Assembly in Geneva in May 2024. Every year, 194 countries member states of the World Health Organization, meet to take stock and approve the agenda for global health.

Frustrated by the slow pace of the negotiations on the Pandemic Treaty in May 2024, a male senior diplomat from a developed country half-jokingly suggested, that consensus on the treaty could perhaps be achieved, if the negotiations were left to women, and the men walk out.

That conversation immediately brought to fore the role of women, not only in diffusing these contentious negotiations, but also overall in global health policy-making. Diplomacy for health has its own specificity, given the implications for women and girls, who constitute half the world’s population.

Further, the highly political and acerbic deliberations at WHO’s meetings of its governing bodies, including at the Executive Board (2024) and the World Health Assembly (2024), in recent years, sharply brings to focus the importance of women diplomats and experts. As health for all gets negotiated with the blunt instruments of votes, and what some say, the political use of cultural norms according to some, misogyny makes its presence felt in the hallowed corridors of power in global health.

The ability to exercise caution, discretion and empathy in these sensitive discussions also depends on the agency that diplomats, both men and women, have around the table. This is crucial as they represent, and speak on behalf of, the lives and choices of billions around the world.

This story examines, the opportunities for, and barriers to such agency, and how that impacts health policy-making.

Image Credit: Photo by Landiva Weber, Pexels