1975-1985: a catalyst for Global South-oriented advocacy by Dutch feminists

Abstract

The article discusses the significance of the International Women's Year (IWY) and the United Nations (UN) Decade for Women for the development of Global South-oriented advocacy by feminists in the Netherlands. It examines how a focus on women evolved within Dutch development cooperation policy and development studies which persists to this day under the banner of ‘women’s rights, gender equality, and gender mainstreaming’. The article highlights instances of international advocacy fostered by the UN International Women’s Year Conference in 1975, the UN International Conference on Population in 1984 and the UN World Conference to Review and Appraise the Achievements of the UN Decade for Women in 1985, and how the advocacy efforts contributed to a reframing of the early Dutch policy approach of ‘women in development’.