On 3 March 2025, the United Nations University (UNU), in partnership with the Embassy of Mongolia in Japan, co-hosted the symposium “Women, Peace and Security: Mongolia, a Feminist-oriented Foreign Policy”.
The event was opened by Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala, Rector of UNU and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations. He noted that feminist-oriented foreign policy “is fundamentally about rethinking traditional approaches to international relations. It prioritizes gender equality, inclusivity and human rights, seeking to dismantle systemic barriers that prevent women from fully participating in decision-making processes. By incorporating feminist principles into foreign policy, countries can create more equitable and just societies, both domestically and internationally”.
He further emphasized: “It is no longer acceptable that we separate gender equality from other development challenges. Our work to support the women, peace and security agenda is an opportunity to shift our approach and embrace gender equality as much more than a single goal. Gender equality is a human rights imperative and, therefore, it must be both a goal and a guiding principle of governance and leadership.”
Prof. Marwala’s opening remarks were followed by remarks from Ms. Akiko Ikuina, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan. Ms. Ikuina spoke on Japan’s commitment to the women, peace and security (WPS) agenda, highlighting the recent WPS Focal Points Network Meeting, which was co-chaired by Japan and Norway at the United Nations University. She noted that Japan has been strengthening the participation of women in disaster risk reduction as part of its support for the WPS agenda, drawing on the important lessons learned from the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011.
H.E. Ms. Melba Pría, Ambassador of Mexico to Japan, delivered remarks introducing the important activities of the group of women ambassadors in Japan. The group, comprising nearly thirty ambassadors, has been engaging in dialogue with representatives from the National Diet of Japan, local government, civil society and members of the press on issues surrounding WPS and gender equality, while also mentoring Japanese women and helping them develop their leadership skills.
The symposium featured a keynote address from H.E. Ms. Battsetseg Batmunkh, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Mongolia, who reflected on Mongolia’s long history of championing gender equality, both at home and globally.
The Minister highlighted Mongolia’s key domestic achievements, such as Mongolian women making up 62% of all university students and, most recently, women securing 25% of Mongolia's parliamentary seats. However, she acknowledged that numbers alone do not create equality, underlining that: “Mongolia is committed to not just increasing numbers, but fostering a culture where women’s leadership is not exceptional — it is expected."
Ms. Battsetseg also introduced Mongolia’s activities on the global stage, such as hosting the 2023 Female Foreign Ministers Meeting (the first of its kind to be held in Asia) and convening the World Women's Forum in 2024.
Foreign Minister Battsetseg concluded her address with a call for action: “Let us not merely talk about change — let us become the architects of it. Let us ensure that the next generation of women leaders does not need to fight for a seat at the table — because the table was built with them in mind.”
The keynote address was followed by a panel discussion, moderated by Mr. Guntevsuren Byambasuren, Director-General of the Department of Policy and Planning of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia. The panel included Ambassador Melba Pría; Ms. Rui Matsukawa, Member of the House of Councillors of Japan; Ms. Mitsuko Ishii, Member of the House of Councillors of Japan; and Dr. Shinobu Yume Yamaguchi, Director of the UNU Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability.
During the lively discussions participants engaged in open and insightful exchanges, with topics ranging from the current state of gender affairs in the world, to the need for representation of women during disaster recovery, to the gender imbalance in education during times of crises.
Ambassador Pría spoke of the continued violation of women’s rights and persistent gender inequalities in contexts of both conflict and peace. She introduced Mexico’s commitment to women’s empowerment, highlighting the first World Conference on the Status of Women, organized in Mexico in 1975 and, more recently, the third Feminist Foreign Policy Summit hosted by Mexico in 2024.
Councillor Matsukawa introduced Japan’s experience in organizing the World Assembly for Women (WAW!), having led its establishment in her role as the first Director of the Gender Mainstreaming Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. WAW! was created as an annual gathering for discussions on various women's issues including women’s empowerment and has since evolved into a network.
Councillor Ishii shared her experience volunteering as a registered health practitioner during the recovery period of the Great East Japan Earthquake. She spoke of the unique challenges women face in disaster recovery situations, and emphasized the need for more women to lead Japan’s health services.
Dr. Yamaguchi shed light on the gender disparity in continuing education during times of displacement, for example, due to the effects of climate change. She noted case study research showing that during displacement periods, women attend far fewer classes than men.
The panel discussion was followed by a question-and-answer session with the audience, touching upon topics such as Mongolia's diplomatic policy, the role of women in crisis management, regional cooperation and ways to encourage female participation in politics and peacebuilding.
The event finished with closing remarks from Dr. Yamaguchi, who underlined that gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a prerequisite for peaceful and sustainable societies. She pointed to the fact that the world is facing difficulty in its efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 5 (gender equality) by 2030 and introduced the five priorities identified by UN Secretary-General António Guterres to reverse this trend: ending poverty, implementing gender-responsive financing, shifting to a green economy and care society, and supporting feminist change-makers.
