Women bring diverse perspectives and experiences to the table in foreign policy. Achieving gender balance and acknowledging women’s capabilities is therefore crucial. Their inclusion not only enhances the overall quality of foreign policy discussions but also promotes peace.

In Nepal, the number of female officers in foreign affairs has increased in recent years, but their engagement in the sector still remains limited. Despite possessing the potential to accomplish remarkable feats, their contributions are often underestimated, hindering gender balance.

Constitutional provisions

The 2015 Constitution of Nepal promotes women’s participation in various spheres, including foreign affairs. Women are granted the right to participate in all state bodies based on proportional representation, emphasising equality. A notable provision stipulates that at least one-third of the total members elected from each political party represented in the federal and provincial parliaments must be women, amounting to 33 percent. If a political party fails to do so, it must ensure, through proportional representation, that women make up at least one-third of the total members elected to Parliament from that party.

The constitution mandates that the president and the vice-president represent different genders or communities, ensuring diverse representation in the election process. Similar rights extend to positions of the speaker and the deputy speaker, the chairperson and the vice-chair of the National Assembly, federal and provincial parliaments, mayor and deputy mayor and women ward members. These roles entail engagement with the international arena in diplomacy, interactions with foreign delegates and advancing women in various leadership capacities. These developments instil hope even among women from the grassroots, inspiring them to pursue such positions in the future.

Women in diplomacy

Despite Nepal’s commitment to women’s rights and empowerment in its foreign policy, including involvement in initiatives like the Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security, sustainable development goals and leading efforts within the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation and Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, lack of women’s representation in certain positions persists.

The appointment of high-level officials, including the secretary-general, secretaries at the federal and provincial assemblies, the House of Representatives and the National Assembly who hold foreign and national affairs responsibilities, still remains male-dominated.

Consequently, a significant lack of women in key executive positions indicates a persistent gap in their involvement in foreign policy planning, decision-making and implementation. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there are around 64 female officials compared to 245 male officials dealing with diplomacy and foreign affairs, highlighting the ongoing underrepresentation of women in these critical roles. The representation of female diplomats is also scarce, with only three women out of 33 ambassadors. This suggests that Nepal has appointed 10 male ambassadors for every female ambassador, according to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs report. Between 2019 and 2022, five female ambassadors out of 33 served the nation. Such figures indicate that the percentage of female ambassadors has decreased from 15.15 percent to 9.09 percent in the given period.

Despite Nepal’s inclusive constitution and women-friendly government policies, the appointment and recruitment processes are highly male-dominated, with only a few token female representatives in most governmental bodies.

Prioritising women

The scarcity of female ambassadors mirrors women’s overall limited participation in diplomacy. The representation of women should be more robust among experts in foreign policy within our society. Women engaged in various ministries, departments, municipalities, chambers, private sectors and fields such as journalism face significant barriers to accessing international relations.

The government must prioritise appointing female ambassadors to compensate for the numerical gap at the senior level in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) until it becomes more representative at the senior level. Having the first female secretary is a significant development in the foreign policy sector.

Despite the challenges, Nepal’s female ambassadors have demonstrated exceptional performance in foreign lands, particularly during the Covid-19 crisis. Their achievements, recognised internationally, highlight women’s immense potential in diplomatic roles.

The Nepali Times, in an article “Nepal’s women envoys make a mark” (September 29, 2020), reported that Nepal’s female ambassadors were better at ensuring the welfare of Nepalis abroad and projecting the country’s international image during the Covid-19 crisis. It also validated the performance of women ambassadors during the pandemic. Moreover, the general public has appreciated the performances of female ambassadors. Although the ability of women to excel in foreign diplomacy is clear to all, they are still not receiving the opportunities guaranteed by the Constitution.

Foreign policy stands as a pivotal area for women’s participation and empowerment. It is imperative to go beyond mere promises, redouble efforts to fulfil commitments and create an inclusive space for women in diplomacy. As Mary Ann Sieghart said, “Men are considered competent until proven otherwise; women are considered incompetent until she proves otherwise,” we must change societal perceptions and promote gender equality. Women’s inherent skills in management, diplomacy, hospitality and crisis handling make them valuable contributors to the field of foreign policy, and we shouldn’t let mere prejudice falter their success.