Minister Fajon on International Women's Day: Empowering women is a guiding principle of Slovenian foreign policy

She added that the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs has strengthened the representation of women in leadership positions and made a clear commitment to a feminist foreign policy that incorporates gender equality into all diplomatic, security and development efforts. The number of Slovenian female ambassadors around the world is increasing, including in demanding posts for cultural or security reasons, and the same applies to women in leadership positions at the Ministry in Ljubljana.

The growing number of armed conflicts and the strengthening of authoritarian regimes around the world are accompanied by an increasingly open denial of the rights of women and girls. In this context, as Minister Fajon emphasises, Slovenia stands firmly alongside all those striving for equal rights and opportunities for women and girls. The country is dedicated to promoting gender equality as a fundamental human right and the foundation of peaceful, just and inclusive societies. In its work, Slovenia supports the full, equal and meaningful inclusion of women in all spheres of society, including decision-making positions. 

Slovenia has also openly advocated for women's representation in leadership positions within international organisations. Over 80 years after the United Nations was founded, it is high time a woman took the helm of this central global forum. “It's time for the first female Secretary-General of the United Nations,” says Minister Fajon. 

Despite significant progress in many areas, gender inequality remains a persistent challenge. From unequal access to education and job opportunities to violence and discrimination, many women experience these negative trends daily. In today's increasingly digital world, violence against women is not confined to physical spaces; it also occurs online in the form of harassment, intimidation, hate speech, privacy violations and other abuses. It is essential that we recognise and respond effectively to these new and evolving forms of violence in order to prevent escalation that can lead to sexual and gender-based violence in the physical world, including femicide.

Minister Fajon therefore calls on us to use this day to reflect not only on the achievements of women and girls around the world, and their valuable contribution to social development, but also to promote collective action. This will ensure that no woman or girl is left behind, and that all obstacles to their equal and equitable participation in society are removed.

Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls are at the core of Slovenia's development cooperation and humanitarian aid activities. Through its programmes and partnerships, Slovenia supports women and girls in difficult circumstances, particularly in times of crisis when they are often the first victims of violence, exclusion and abuse. The country supports projects and activities of Slovenian implementing partners and non-governmental organisations working in this field in Afghanistan, Lebanon, Uganda, Rwanda, Madagascar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the two programme countries of Slovenian development cooperation, Montenegro and North Macedonia.

Through contributions to international organisations, primarily the International Committee of the Red Cross, Slovenia supports programmes that combat gender-based violence in vulnerable countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. These include countries where Slovenia carries out other humanitarian and development activities, such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, the Philippines and Sudan. Slovenia also supports the work of UN Women in the fields of peace and security, as well as the economic empowerment of women. It supports the UN Population Fund's humanitarian programmes in Afghanistan and Madagascar, thereby helping to prevent maternal mortality and reduce violence against women and girls. Slovenia regularly contributes to the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women, the Women's Peace and Humanitarian Fund and the UN Population Fund.

Gender issues and the rights of women and girls are Slovenia's top priorities for its membership of the UN Human Rights Council. In this regard, Slovenia pays particular attention to, and supports, the work of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences.

This year, under the slogan “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL women and girls”, UN Women is calling for measures to eliminate structural barriers to equality, such as discriminatory laws, weak legal protection and harmful social norms and practices that undermine the rights of women and girls.

To date, no country has eliminated the legal discrepancies between men and women. Currently, women have only 64 per cent of the legal rights that men have worldwide. Legislation systematically puts women at a disadvantage in fundamental areas of life, including work, money, security, family, property, mobility, business and retirement.