Indo-Pacific
France expresses its solidarity with countries affected by Typhoon Yagi (September 9, 2024)

France is deeply saddened by the damage caused by Super Typhoon Yagi in the Philippines, Vietnam, China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand.

France assures the affected authorities and populations of its full solidarity at this difficult time and offers its condolences to the victims’ families and loved ones.

Our embassies are working around the clock, together with the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs’ Crisis and Support Center, to assist French nationals affected by this typhoon.

Feminist Diplomacy
Gender equality action plan (September 11, 2024)

The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs reaffirms its intention to enact an ever-more-ambitious policy to promote professional equality between men and women with the aim of providing the utmost job satisfaction for its employees. On September 11, the Ministry’s secretary general and trade union representatives signed a new action plan to further gender equality for the period of 2024-2026.

This plan was developed in full consultation with the trade unions. The Senior Official for Gender Equality, associations (particularly Femmes & Diplomatie, which has more than 200 members) as well as the network of 230 equality advisors also played an active role in its development.

Relevant measures from the previous action plan (2021-2023) were carried over and stepped up, and their benchmarks were clarified. The efforts that were undertaken made it possible to achieve, for the second time, the goals set by the Sauvadet Law. In 2024, more than 45% of the ambassadors appointed for the first time were women. Likewise, more than 40% of the newly appointed Consuls General were women. The appointment of substitutes for employees during their maternity leave will be systematically stepped up. As for the Minister’s office, 60% of its staff are women, a first for a government ministry – less than a century after the admission of Suzanne Borel, the first career diplomat, to the Ministry, whose name was assigned to the 2024 class of A and A+ titulaires who passed the civil service entrance exam.

The 2024-2026 plan contains new measures, including a new segment devoted to women’s health and a tougher zero tolerance policy for sexual and gender-based violence. This pertains to private settings as well as both diplomatic postings and the central administration.

Q&A

Do you have any comment on the strike against Khan Younis?

France condemns Israel’s September 9th strike against the humanitarian zone of al-Mawasi near Khan Younis, an area designated as “safe” by the Israeli army. That strike, which resulted in a large number of civilian casualties, further increases the catastrophic death toll among Gaza’s civilian population.

France stresses that respecting international humanitarian law is incumbent upon everyone. We call on the State of Israel to take all necessary measures to guarantee the protection of civilian populations and scrupulously respect international humanitarian law, particularly the principles of distinction and proportionality.

In light of the humanitarian emergency in Gaza, France reiterates its call for an immediate ceasefire to allow for the immediate release of all hostages and unhindered access to humanitarian aid for all Gaza residents, in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions 2712 and 2720.