About the strategy

The Government is committed to being a global leader on gender equality. To support that commitment, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is developing a new International Gender Equality Strategy.

The new International Strategy will recognise gender equality as central to Australia’s foreign policy, international development, humanitarian action, trade and security efforts.

• It will guide Australia’s actions to protect and promote the human rights of all women and girls.
• It will align with the commitments to gender equality made in the region by the Pacific Islands Forum, ASEAN and APEC. It will reflect global commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals, for example, on gender equality, climate change and human rights.
• It will identify the opportunities for Australia, our region and our world for stability, security, prosperity and safety in achieving gender equality and the full and equal participation of all in our societies.

The new International Strategy will reflect the Government’s commitment to achieve gender equality in Australia’s forthcoming first National Strategy to Achieve Gender Equality, the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032, and Australia’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2021-31.

Process

The public call for written, audio video submissions on the International Gender Equality Strategy closed on 18 September 2023. For more information, see the summary of consultations and written submissions.

In developing the strategy, DFAT consulted widely to ensure that a range of organisations and people from diverse backgrounds in our region, and in Australia, have an opportunity to contribute. This included consultations with a broad spectrum of stakeholders from countries in our region, internationally and in Australia.

DFAT also drew on the views and priorities shared in public submissions provided to inform Australia’s International Development Policy and Southeast Asia Economic Strategy.

In addition to this strategy, DFAT is developing a First Nations approach to foreign policy, an International Disability Equity and Rights Strategy, a Humanitarian Strategy and a human rights engagement strategy for LGBTQIA+ equality and inclusion. DFAT will work to build clear connections between these new statements of foreign policy and strategy, including in consultations for stakeholders and partners.