1

Model United Nation

representing FRANCE in UNCSW (United

Nations Commission on the Status of
Women)

Agenda: Promotion of economic

empowerment of women with special
emphasis on their involvement in workplaces
and decision making bodies
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Country Profile: FRANCE

1) Capital: Paris
2) Government: Unitary semi-presidential republic
3) President: Emmanuel Macron
4) GDP: $3.283 trillion
5) Human Development Index(HDI): 0.903(very
high)
6) Known for its progressive stance on gender
equality and feminist foreign policy
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GSL (General Speaker’s List)

1) If you’re called at the beginning of the General
Speaker’s List (90 seconds)
(tone: assertive, establishing stance and intent)
Honourable Chair, distinguished delegates,
The delegate of France believes that women’s economic
empowerment is not an option—it is a necessity for inclusive
growth and sustainable development.
In France, we have implemented progressive measures like
the Rixain Law, ensuring at least 40% women in executive
roles by 2030, and the Gender Equality Index, holding
companies accountable for pay parity and promotions.
These are not just symbolic; they are systemic.
On an international level, France champions feminist
foreign policy, allocates over €100 million annually to
gender equality programs, and co-hosted the Generation
Equality Forum with UN Women to mobilize global action.
France urges the committee to adopt a holistic approach:
enforce gender-responsive budgeting, mandate equal
opportunity laws, and strengthen women-led startups with
targeted funding.
Let us ensure that decision-making tables don’t just have
women present—but that their voices are heard, valued, and
acted upon.
(so don’t just include women in the room. Hand them the
mic)
Merci.
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2) If you’re speaking after 4–5 delegates (120 seconds)

(tone: more analytical, focused on problems + strong
solutions)

Honourable Chair, respected delegates,

Having attentively heard the perspectives of fellow nations,
the delegate of France wishes to emphasize the urgent need
to transform intentions into implementation when it comes
to women’s economic empowerment.
While many of us agree on the need for equality, the reality
remains stark: women worldwide continue to be underpaid,
underrepresented, and undervalued in both workplaces and
policy spaces.
France has addressed this through robust policy reforms.
The Copé-Zimmermann Law enforces 40% female
representation on company boards. Our Gender Equality
Index pressures corporations to close pay gaps.
Furthermore, we support gender-responsive budgeting,
ensuring every fiscal decision considers its gender impact.
But we acknowledge this is not just about France—it’s
about global solidarity. Thus, we propose:
1. A UN-led Global Gender Equity Index for transparent
accountability across nations.
2. Creation of a Women in Decision-Making Fellowship
Program to support leadership training in underrepresented
regions.
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3. International economic incentives for companies actively

promoting women’s leadership
The delegate of France firmly believes that empowerment is
not merely a word—it is a policy, a practice, and a promise.
We urge all nations to commit to action, not just applause.

Thank you very much!

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Bridging the gender pay gap through

policy and practice.
Honourable delegates,
As the delegate of France, I wish to emphasize our
commitment to bridging the gender pay gap through effective
policies and practices.

Firstly, strengthening enforcement of equal pay legislation is

essential. We propose mandatory pay audits for all
organizations to ensure accountability. Transparency must be
prioritized; organizations should publicly report salary
ranges and gender pay statistics to encourage fairness.

Secondly, supporting families is crucial. Implementing paid

parental leave and flexible work arrangements enables
women to balance careers and caregiving responsibilities
without sacrificing one for the other.

Moreover, we must conduct regular pay audits and provide

training on unconscious bias. These measures will foster
equitable workplaces. Empowering women through
negotiation training will equip them to advocate for their
worth confidently.
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Finally, I urge all member states to collaborate and share

best practices in addressing this important issue. Together, we
can work towards a more equitable future.

Thank you.
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Structural and cultural Barriers to women's

participation in decision making rules.
Honorable delegates,
As the delegate of France, I wish to highlight the critical
barriers preventing women's participation in decision-making
roles. These barriers can be divided into structural and
cultural obstacles.

**Firstly, the structural barriers** include the persistent

glass ceiling that limits women’s ascent to leadership
positions due to inadequate promotion opportunities and lack
of mentorship. Workplace policies often fail to support work-
life balance, discouraging women—particularly those with
caregiving responsibilities—from pursuing these roles.
Educational and economic disparities further restrict
women’s access to the qualifications and financial means
necessary for advancement.

**Now, regarding cultural barriers,** societal norms and

stereotypes often position men as leaders and women as
caregivers, perpetuating implicit biases that undermine
women’s contributions. Additionally, many women face
discrimination or backlash when striving for leadership, while
cultural expectations pressure them to prioritize family over
career.
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As a united body, we must actively dismantle these barriers

through policy reform and cultural change. By creating an
inclusive environment, we enable women to thrive as leaders
and enrich decision-making processes.

Thank you.
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Female participation in economic growth

with special emphasis on invisibility of
unpaid care.
Honorable delegates,
As the delegate of France, I want to emphasize the vital role
of female participation in economic growth, particularly the
often-invisible contributions of unpaid care work. Women
globally perform essential unpaid tasks, such as childcare and
eldercare, which support economies by allowing paid labor to
function. However, this work is frequently overlooked, leading
to a significant underestimation of women's contributions to
economic development.

The invisibility of unpaid care perpetuates gender

inequalities, restricting women's ability to fully engage in the
workforce. This not only limits their economic independence
but also hinders overall economic growth, as we fail to
harness the full potential of female talent.

To address this, we must recognize and value unpaid care

work. This includes implementing policies that promote
shared caregiving responsibilities, such as parental leave and
flexible work arrangements, alongside investing in accessible
public services, including childcare facilities.

By elevating the visibility of unpaid care, we can empower

women and foster more equitable societies. It is not only a
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matter of social justice but an economic imperative for

sustainable growth.

Let us commit to prioritizing policies that support women's

contributions to the economy, ensuring that every woman's
role is acknowledged and valued.
Thank you.
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Key Milestones in France’s Focus on

Women’s Empowerment
France has been focusing on empowering women for several
decades, but its efforts really gained strong momentum from
the 1970s onward.

Key Milestones in France’s Focus on Women’s

Empowerment:
Since the 1970s, France has enacted transformative laws such
as in -
1. 1972: France passed the Equal Pay Law mandating
equal pay for equal work.

2. 1975: The Loi Veil (Veil Law), led by then Minister

Simone Veil, legalized abortion—marking a huge step
in women's reproductive rights.

3. 1981 – First Ministry for Women's Rights. France

appointed its first Minister for Women’s Rights, Yvette
Roudy. The Ministry launched awareness campaigns and
pushed laws around workplace equality.

4. 1999 – Constitutional Reform. France amended its

Constitution to promote gender parity in political life,
especially in elections and political appointments.
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5. 2014 – Law for Real Gender Equality. A

comprehensive law was passed promoting equal
representation in leadership roles, equal pay, and
protection against gender-based violence.

6. 2020 onwards – Global Feminist Foreign Policy.

France declared itself a feminist country on the world
stage.

Hosted the Generation Equality Forum (2021) in Paris with

UN Women, committing billions towards gender equality
globally.
---
Present Day:
France promotes female entrepreneurship, inclusion in
STEM, equal pay audits, and laws to close the gender gap in
decision-making roles.

Actively funds global initiatives and has a strong feminist

stance in foreign policy.
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France’s International Actions

on women’s economic empowerment

“Honourable Chair, respected delegates—

France stands committed to global gender equality through
bold international actions. We’ve embraced a Feminist
Foreign Policy since 2019, making women’s rights central to
our diplomacy and aid. In 2021, France co-hosted the
Generation Equality Forum, helping mobilize over 40 billion
dollars in commitments toward women’s leadership,
economic justice, and digital access.

Through the French Development Agency, France ensures

that 50% of its development aid directly benefits gender-
focused programs—like microloans for women entrepreneurs,
education for girls, and skill-building for better workplace
inclusion.

We are proud to be a key donor to UN Women,

CEDAW(convention on the elimination of all forms of
discrimination against women), and continue to lead gender
advocacy across the UN, G7, and EU platforms.
Merci.”
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UNCSW
The UNCSW, or the United Nations Commission on
the Status of Women, is a functional commission of the
United Nations Economic and Social Council
(ECOSOC). Established in 1946, its primary purpose is
to promote gender equality and the empowerment of
women worldwide.
The commission addresses various issues related to
women's rights, including economic and social
development, health, education, and gender-based
violence. It also serves as a global forum for discussing
the challenges facing women and girls and
recommending policies to improve their status.
One of the most notable functions of the UNCSW is to
hold annual meetings where member states and various
stakeholders come together to review progress on
gender equality and women’s empowerment, share best
practices, and develop international standards and
guidelines for member states to implement. The
outcomes of these meetings usually include agreed
conclusions that provide actionable recommendations
for governments and organizations to enhance women's
rights and address inequalities.
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POINTS
 Gender equality has been a significant focus of public policy in France,
influenced by broader commitments to human rights that emerged post-World
War II. Efforts to achieve gender parity have led to several key laws over the
decades.

Key Provisions of the Rixain Law

1. Gender Quotas for Senior Executives and Management Bodies

 By March 1, 2027, companies are required to ensure that at least 30% of

their senior executives and management bodies are women.
 This quota increases to 40% by March 1, 2030.
 Failure to meet these quotas may result in financial penalties, potentially
up to 1% of the company's annual payroll, if corrective measures are not
implemented within two years after the deadline.

 "The Rixain Law builds upon the Copé-Zimmermann Law of

2011, which mandated that at least 40% of board members in
large companies be women."

Copé-Zimmermann Law (2011):

 This was a French law passed in 2011.
 It said that large companies in France must have at least 40% women
on their boards of directors.
 The goal was to improve gender equality at the highest level of
company leadership.

 Rixain Law (2021):

o The Rixain Law came 10 years later and expanded on this idea.
o Instead of just focusing on boards, it now includes senior
executives and management roles too — meaning people
actually running the company day to day.
o It also introduced mandatory gender quotas for these positions,
pushing for 40% women by 2030.
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What is Feminist Foreign Policy?

 A foreign policy that prioritizes equality, inclusivity, and the

rights of women and marginalized groups in all areas—
diplomacy, development, defence, trade, and international
cooperation.
 Human Rights First:
Focuses on protecting and promoting the rights of women,
LGBTQ+ communities, ethnic minorities, and other vulnerable
groups globally.
 Participation and Representation:
Pushes for equal participation of women and marginalized groups
in peace negotiations, international leadership, and decision-
making processes.
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Sure! Here’s a more specific examination of the agenda

focusing on the promotion of economic empowerment of
women in France, with a particular emphasis on their
involvement in workplaces and decision-making bodies:

### 1. **Economic Empowerment of Women in

France**
- **Current Status**:
- France has made significant strides in promoting
gender equality in the workplace. However, challenges
remain, particularly in achieving equal pay and
representation in leadership roles. Women in France
still earn about 16.5% less than men on average (as of
2021).
- **Objectives**:
- Increase the overall labor force participation rate
of women, which was around 67% in 2020.
- Support women entrepreneurs, as only about 30%
of businesses in France are owned by women.

### 2. **Involvement in Workplaces**

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- **Barriers**:
- Women often face barriers like the gender pay gap,
occupational segregation, and limited opportunities for
advancement in their careers.
- Cultural expectations regarding family
responsibilities can impact women's career
progression.
- **Strategies to Promote Inclusion**:
- **Legislation**: France has established laws such
as the Gender Equality Law (Loi n° 2014-873) that
mandate equal pay and promote gender balance in
corporate boards, requiring companies with over 1,000
employees to achieve gender parity in management
roles by 2025. Smaller companies are also encouraged
to comply with gender equality standards.
- **Support for Women in STEM**: Initiatives such
as “Pour les femmes et les sciences” aim to encourage
young women to pursue education and careers in
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics,
fields where women are underrepresented.
- **Flexible Work Policies**: France provides paid
parental leave (up to 28 weeks for mothers and 11 days
for fathers) and other family-friendly workplace
policies designed to encourage work-life balance. These
are essential to help women continue their careers
alongside family responsibilities.
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### 3. **Decision-Making Bodies**

- **Current Status**:
- France has made significant progress in increasing
women's representation in political spheres, with laws
such as the 2000 parity law which mandates at least
50% representation of both genders in electoral lists.
- **Goals**:
- To ensure greater female representation in
municipal councils, parliament, and corporate boards.
As of 2021, women occupied 38% of the seats in the
National Assembly and around 45% of regional
councils.
- **Strategies**:
- **Quotas**: Continued enforcement and potential
expansion of the gender quotas in political
representation and boards of major corporations (large
companies must have at least 40% women on their
boards).
- **Leadership Training**: Programs and
mentorship initiatives to empower women to take on
leadership roles within both public and private sectors,
such as the “Women in Leadership” initiative
supported by various NGOs.
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### 4. **Benefits of Economic Empowerment**

- **Economic Impact**: Increasing women's
workforce participation is expected to add billions to
France’s GDP. For instance, a McKinsey report
suggested that closing the gender gap in employment
could increase GDP by about 10% by 2025.
- **Social Impact**: Women’s financial
independence leads to better health outcomes for
families and improves educational opportunities for
children.
- **Diverse Governance**: Gender-balanced
decision-making bodies lead to more inclusive policies
that reflect the needs of the entire population and can
improve trust in government institutions.

### 5. **Global Frameworks and Support**

- **European Union Policies**: France is an active
participant in EU initiatives aimed at promoting gender
equality, aligning with the EU's Gender Equality
Strategy to advance gender equality across member
states.
- **International Commitments**: France is
committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals,
particularly Goal 5, which focuses on gender equality
and women's empowerment.
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### Conclusion
The promotion of economic empowerment for women in
France involves a multi-faceted approach that includes
legislative support, cultural change, and targeted
initiatives to address barriers to access and
advancement in both the workforce and decision-
making roles. By continuing to prioritize these efforts,
France can further advance gender equality and
harness the full potential of its female population,
leading to economic and social progress for the entire
nation.