Her Turn: Building a Feminist International System Through Multilateralism

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GWL Voices is proud to present its latest course “Building a Feminist International System Through Multilateralism”, under the initiative Her Turn in partnership with the School of Paris International Affairs of Sciences Po. Designed for the Spring 2025 semester as part of the Masters in International Governance and Diplomacy, this course offers an unparalleled opportunity to explore how feminist principles can reshape global governance.

Led by Cristina Gallach Figueras, Board Secretary of GWL Voices and a leading expert in multilateralism, the course is enriched by the participation of Silvana Koch-Mehrin, President and Founder of Women Political Leaders (WPL), as a guest instructor; and Alba Gavaliugov Méndez, Global Governance and Gender Research Assistant at GWL Voices, will serve as the teaching assistant, ensuring a dynamic and interactive learning environment.

Why This Course?

In an era where multilateralism faces unprecedented challenges, feminist perspectives offer a transformative lens to address global issues such as peace, security, climate justice, and political representation. HerTurn is designed to equip participants with the knowledge and tools to drive meaningful change within international institutions and policymaking spaces.

This course is a crucial contribution to building knowledge on feminist approaches to global governance and ensuring that future leaders understand the intersections of gender and international policy. Additionally, intergenerational dialogue plays a key role in fostering inclusive and sustainable solutions, making this exchange of perspectives essential for shaping the future of multilateralism.

Sessions

  • Introduction to Feminist Governance: Grounded in key feminist governance frameworks, the course begins by exploring foundational readings and Spain’s pioneering Feminist Foreign Policy.
  • Women’s Rights as Human Rights: Examines the evolution of women’s rights, including their role in shaping the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
  • Gender Achievements in Multilateralism: Analyzes milestones such as the Beijing Declaration and the role of feminist governance in international policymaking.
  • Women’s Leadership in Global Governance: Reviews contemporary challenges and strategies for increasing women’s representation in decision-making spaces.
  • Women, Peace, and Security: Delves into the impact of UNSCR 1325 and feminist approaches to conflict resolution.
  • Climate Crisis and Gender Justice: Investigates how feminist leadership can address climate injustices, particularly for marginalized communities.
  • Women’s Political Representation and Movements: Assesses the barriers to women’s leadership and the power of collective feminist activism.
  • Violence Against Women: Led by guest instructor Silvana Koch-Mehrin, this session examines legal frameworks and policy responses to combat gender-based violence.

A Key Initiative Under HerTurn

This course is part of the second pillar of HerTurn, reinforcing GWL Voices’ commitment to fostering knowledge and capacity-building for the next generation of global leaders. Through this initiative, we aim to empower students with the necessary tools to advocate for gender equality and a feminist approach to multilateralism.

Let’s make it HerTurn to lead.