Gender equality
UN Security Council
2024
Australian Statement: Statement to the UN Security Council Open Debate on Preventing Conflict Related Security Violence, 23 April 2024
As another year passes, we continue to be appalled by the perpetration of sexual violence in conflict, and the disregard for human rights, international humanitarian law and the international rules-based system that is so apparent.
2023
Australian Statement: Statement to the UN Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security, 25 October 2023.
In 2023 – as we witness and respond to wars, violent conflicts, political instability, economic insecurity, and climate-induced crises – we again encounter the question: “Why are women still excluded from peace processes and decision-making?”
Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security Statement: Statement to the UN Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security, 25 October 2023.
We recognize the courage and determination of all women and girls, in diverse conditions and situations, who are essential to building peace and preventing conflict around the world.
Australian Statement: Statement to the UN Security Council Open Debate on Sexual Violence in Conflict, 13 April 2023.
Australia is gravely concerned by the ongoing use of military interventions at the expense of political processes, and the devastating and disproportionate affects these actions have on women and girls. The ongoing targeting, including through sexual violence and harassment, of women peacebuilders and human rights defenders, is unacceptable. We must ensure that women, girls, men and boys affected by sexual violence have access to comprehensive support including sexual and reproductive health, psychosocial, legal, and other crisis support services.
Australian Statement: UN: Fifty-Sixth Commission on Population and Development: General Debate, 10 April 2023.
We are holding this meeting at a time when the world has reached over 8 billion people, 60 per cent of them young people – our largest ever youth cohort. The special theme of the fifty-sixth session on 'population, education and sustainable development' is very relevant in this context. It signals that education is at the heart of human development and critical to promoting gender equality, social inclusion, diversity and respect for human rights.
Australian Statement: Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security, 7 March 2023.
As we move closer towards the 25th anniversary of the adoption of Resolution 1325, we are reminded of how far we have come as a global community, but, at the same time, how far we have yet to go. As the world continues to confront conflicts and threats to peace and security, like climate change and pandemics, our collective commitment to advancing gender equality and WPS must remain a priority.
CSW67 - UNSC WPS - Australian Ambassador for Gender Equality - 7 March 2023
Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security Statement: UNSC Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security: Towards the 25th anniversary of resolution 1325, 7 March 2023.
Canada, on behalf of 65 Member States of the Group of Friends of Women, Peace, and Security thank Mozambique for creating this opportunity to take stock of progress made in implementing the Women, Peace and Security agenda. Regrettably, women and girls in many parts of the world continue to be excluded from decision-making and targeted by discrimination; sexual and gender-based violence, both offline and online; and multiple violations of their human rights and fundamental freedoms.
2022
Australian Statement: Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security, 20 October 2022.
Across the world, women demand to be heard, advocate for the fulfilment of human rights, mediate conflicts and negotiate peace. Where women are absent – by force or discriminatory norms and structures – peace does not prevail. Where women human rights defenders are persecuted, peace does not prevail. Where the knowledge and networks of diverse women are disregarded, including in relation to climate, disasters and terrorism, insecurity and instability reign.
Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security Statement: Open Debate on the Role of Regional Organizations in Implementing Women, Peace and Security, 15 June 2022.
Regional and sub-regional organizations play an important role in the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security resolutions. In conflicts and crises, including in contexts of seizures of power by force, regional organizations and regional networks provide support in conflict prevention, mediation and resolution. We urge them to promote women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in all aspects and at all levels of peace and security processes.
Australian Statement: Open debate on sexual violence in conflict, 13 April 2022
Women and girls continue to face appalling levels of sexual violence in conflict-affected settings, including Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Myanmar, Syria and Iraq. Concerned by increasing reports of acts of sexual violence against women and girls in Ukraine, Australia supports the work of the Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine that will investigate all alleged violations and abuses of human rights.
Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security Statement: Open Debate of the UN Security Council on Advancing the WPS agenda through partnerships, 8 March 2022
On behalf of the 56 Member States of the Group of Friends of Women, Peace, and Security, Iceland expressed shared solidarity with all women peacebuilders, human rights defenders and advocates for gender equality around the world who are tirelessly working to build peace, defend human rights and implement the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security Statement: UN Security Council Open Debate on Protecting Participation. 18 January 2022
The Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security condemn all threats, harassment, attacks, and reprisals against women peacebuilders, human rights defenders and gender equality advocates, and call for the Security Council and the UN system to develop effective measures to prevent and respond to reprisals.
Australian Statement: Protecting Participation: Addressing Violence Targeting Women in Peace and Security Processes, 18 January 2022
It is critical that women participate fully, equally, and meaningfully in all peace and security processes without the threat of reprisals, intimidation, or violence. Australia will continue to stand with our partners to strengthen women’s participation and protect those at risk of and subjected to violence.
Ambassador for Women and Girls Twitter post
2021
Australian Statement: UNSC Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security, 21 October 2021
MIKTA Joint Statement: UNSC Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security, 21 October 2021
Australia’s national and the statement delivered on behalf of the MIKTA countries – Indonesia, Mexico, Türkiye, the Republic of Korea, and, Australia addressed the theme of the UNSG report and topic of the debate “investing in women in peacekeeping and peacebuilding”.
Australia highlighted the recent challenges to women and girls' rights, security and safety in Afghanistan, Myanmar and Tigray and the critical importance of full and prompt implementation of the WPS agenda. Implementation of the WPS agenda requires inclusive and sustained action at all levels, from the grassroots to global gatherings. It is essential that we work with, and support the leadership of, women civil society actors, human rights defenders and peacebuilders. Australia commits to systematically mainstreaming gender in our responses to and recovery from COVID-19 to maintain the momentum towards gender equality and women's empowerment.
2020
Australian Statement: UNSC Open Debate on Women Peace and Security, 29 October 2020
Group of Friends’ Statement: UNSC Open Debate on Women Peace and Security, 29 October 2020
MIKTA Statement: UNSC Open Debate on Women Peace and Security, 29 October 2020
Australia delivered a national, Group of Friends and a MIKTA statement on the 20th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which set the foundation for the WPS agenda. Australia recognised the disproportionate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on women and girls are posing a great risk of reversing our hard-won gains on gender equality and women’s empowerment, reflecting that the WPS Agenda remains as relevant as it did 20 years ago. Australia committed to improving the number and influence of women in national security services, including by meeting the UN’s Uniformed Gender Parity targets and funding the Elsie Initiative to increase the meaningful participation of uniformed women.
Commission of the Status of Women
2024
The 68th annual United Nations Commission on the Status of Women focussed on accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective.
Australia delivered a National Statement
2023
The priority theme for the 67th session (6-17 March 2023) of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women was innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.
Australia delivered a National Statement
2022
The 66th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (15-25 March 2022) focussed on achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programs.
Australia delivered a national statement and joined statements by the Pacific Island Forum member states, MIKTA, the UN Group of Friends for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls, the LGBTI Core Group and the US-led Joint Statement on the Ukraine.
Group of Friends Statement on Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls
Pacific Island Forum Statement
United States-led Joint Statement on the Ukraine
UN General Assembly
2024
Third Committee 79th Session
Australian Statement to the United Nations General Assembly, 28 September 2024. Statement by Foreign Minister, the Hon Penny Wong.
Steeled by the horror of the most catastrophic conflict in history, humanity forged our United Nations. Its purpose often defined not as taking us to heaven, but saving us from hell. Yet we convene this week with so much of the human family enshrouded in darkness.
2023
Third Committee 78th Session
Australian statement: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, 4 October 2023
In our region, Australia is committed to ending all forms of gender-based violence, including that caused by statelessness and discriminatory nationality laws. Australia works with partners to prevent all forms of gender-based violence and support survivors.
Joint Statement: Australia and 80 co-sponsors on the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan, 3 October 2023
The fundamental right to equality and non-discrimination and commitment to 'leave no one behind' lies at the heart of the Agenda 2030, and are firmly anchored in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Yet, seventy-five years after its adoption, women and girls' human rights in Afghanistan are being abused, and they are being left behind.
2022
Third Committee 77th Session
Australian Statement: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women and Girls, 4 October 2022
All forms of violence against women and girls are a violation of human rights and significantly impact individuals, families, communities and countries.
Australian Statement: General Debate on the Advancement of Women, 4 October 2022
All women and girls – who are diverse in their identities and the intersecting inequalities they confront – must be able to fully and freely exercise what we hold to be universal human rights. And to live their lives with dignity, physical integrity, choice and opportunities, free of violence
2021
Third Committee 76th Session
Joint Statement: Generation Equality Forum, 18 November 2021
Held in 2021, the Generation Equality Forum was a major multi-stakeholder initiative of recent years for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. Australia is committed to and called on Member States to join this global effort to for the full implementation of the landmark 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
Third Committee 75th Session
Australian Statement: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, 5 October 2021
Whether in the home, workplace, education or community, all forms of violence against women and girls constitute grave human rights violations. In this statement, Australia reaffirmed its determination to end gender-based violence, domestically and in our region.
2019
Third Committee 74th Session
National Statement: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, 4 October 2019 | [DOCX 209 KB] | [PDF 204 KB]
Australia welcomed the Special Rapporteur’s report on a human rights-based approach to mistreatment and violence against women and supported the conclusions and recommendations
Human Rights Council
2024
56th Session
National Statement: Gender equality: escalating backlashes and the urgency to reaffirm substantive equality and the human rights of women and girls Report of the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls, 27 June 2024
This abuse of women and girls removes them from the public discourse and is endangering their full, equal, and meaningful participation and leadership in political, economic and public life. We urgently need to hold perpetrators of gender-based violence to account and accelerate action on gender equality.
2023
54th Session
CANZ Joint Statement: Annual discussion on the integration of a gender perspective throughout the work of the human Rights Council and that of its mechanisms, 25 September 2023
UN treaty bodies are critical to the protection and promotion of human rights worldwide by holding countries accountable for their human rights obligations. Their work is increasingly important in the face of a concerted backlash against human rights norms, specifically those of women and girls in all their diversity.
2023
53rd Session
Malaysia-Australia Joint Statement: Annual discussion on human rights on women: Panel 1 on ‘Gender-based violence against women and girls in public and political life’, 30 June 2023.
We underline the importance of harnessing technology to tackle structural discrimination, stereotypes and gender-based violence. With inclusive design and decision-making, technology can promote women’s full and equal participation and leadership in public life, politics and elections. It can prevent and respond to gender-based violence.
Australian Statement: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and Girls, 22 June 2023.
Violence against women and girls, in all their diversity, is a human rights abuse, for which impunity persists. Australia is concerned by the perpetuation of gender inequalities through laws and legal systems, and biases in judicial processes.
Joint Statement: Joint Statement on “Femicides and Human Rights”: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women and Girls, 22 June 2023.
The gender-related killing of women and girls, also known as femicide or feminicide, constitutes the most extreme and brutal manifestation of violence against all women and girls and is prevalent in all regions and countries worldwide. A major problem is the difficulty of identifying the occurrence of femicide given the absence of data collection strategies and systems.
Australian Statement: Interactive Dialogue on the High Commissioner’s annual report, 20 June 2023.
In 2023, Australia is alarmed that the rights of women and girls remain under threat globally; repressive authorities grossly deprive women and girls of their human rights in Afghanistan and Iran; conflict-based violence has surged in Ukraine, Ethiopia, Myanmar and Haiti; and Australia is deeply concerned about CEDAW’s findings on the treatment of women in Xinjiang and Tibet.
Joint Statement: Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on Afghanistan (with Special Rapporteur and Working Group on discrimination against women and girls), 19 June 2023.
Australia has consistently called on the Taliban to uphold international standards and respect women’s and girls’ human rights, yet the situation continues to deteriorate.
Australian Statement: Interactive Dialogue with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Sudan, 19 June 2023.
We are deeply concerned by reports of ongoing human rights violations, including sexual and gender-based violence perpetrated by both parties. Reported attacks on humanitarian workers and the appropriation of health facilities are inexcusable as is the reported recruitment and use of children.
52nd Session
Australian Statement: National Statement during the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of human rights in Afghanistan, 6 March 2023.
Australia is deeply concerned by the number of repressive edicts issued by the Taliban against women and girls eradicating them from public life.
2022
51st Session
Australian-led CANZ Statement: Gender barriers to Freedom of Opinion and Expression, 26 September 2022.
Gender-based barriers to freedom of opinion and expression are embedded in patriarchal systems and structures that perpetuate discriminatory policies, practices and socio-cultural norms. We are committed to dismantling these systems and structures.
50th Session
Australian Statement: Urgent Debate on the Situation of Human Rights for Women and Girls in Afghanistan, 1 July 2022.
Australia demand the Taliban honour its commitments and call on the international community to ensure accountability by bringing perpetrators of crimes involving abuses of international human rights law and violations of international humanitarian law to justice.
Australian Statement: Annual Discussion on Women’s Rights: Panel 1: Exploring the nexus between climate change and violence against women and girls through a human rights lens, 27 June 2022.
As we confront the climate crisis, women’s and girls’ human rights must be at the centre of our collective efforts. Climate change and its consequences can exacerbate the risk of sexual and gender-based violence. This risk is most acute for women and girls facing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and inequality, including indigenous women and girls.
Australian Statement: Panel discussion on menstrual hygiene management, human rights and gender equality, 21 June 2022.
In many parts of the world, gender inequality, discriminatory social norms and cultural taboos, and a lack of access to sexual and reproductive health services mean that menstrual hygiene needs go unmet.
Australian Statement: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, 20 June 2022
Violence against indigenous women and girls is a human rights violation, underpinned by intersecting forms of structural discrimination. Australia is committed to combatting this violence.
Australian Statement: Interactive Dialogue with the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls, 17 June 2022
The advocacy of women and girls of all ages, backgrounds and identities is essential for eliminating all forms of discrimination. Australia is committed to working with, and protecting space for, civil society, especially women and girl human rights defenders
2021
48th Session
47th Session
Australian Statement: Annual Full-Day Discussion on the Human Rights of Women: Gender-Equal Socioeconomic Recovery from COVID-19, delivered by Ambassador for Gender Equality Julie-Ann Guivarra, 5-6 July 2021
Australian Statement: Interactive Dialogue with the Working Group on the Elimination of discrimination against women and girls: SRHR in crisis, delivered by Ambassador for Gender Equality Julie-Ann Guivarra, 25 June 2021
Australian Statement: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women: Rape as a grave, systematic and widespread human rights violation, 14 July 2021
2020
45th Session
44th Session
Australian Statement: Panel COVID-19 and the Rights of Women and Girls, delivered by former Minister for Foreign Affairs and former Minister for Women Senator the Honourable Marise Payne, 14 July 2020 [DOCX 119 KB] | [PDF 131 KB]
Australian Statement: Interactive Dialogue with the Working Group on the Elimination of discrimination against women and girls, delivered by the Ambassador for Gender Equality Julie-Ann Guivarra, 7 July 2020 [DOCX 121 KB] | [PDF 77 KB]
Thematic statements
2024
G20 Ministerial Meeting on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment, Brasilia, Brazil – 11 October 2024
The statement by the Australian Ambassador highlighted gender equality as essential for ending poverty, achieving peace, solving climate crises and build a sustainable and equitable future for all. Gender equality a strategic necessity for security, stability and sustainable development. Australia is firmly committed to gender equality and the human rights of all women and girls, and persons of diverse gender identities.
Joint Statement to mark the International Day for Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict
Australia joined other members of the International Alliance on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict (PSVI) in welcoming the UN Secretary-General’s 2023 report on conflict-related sexual violence. The statement called for sexual violence in all forms to stop, for perpetrators to be held accountable and survivors to be supported.
2023
Joint Statement on the Australia-U.S. Strategic Dialogue on Gender Equality, Washington D.C. 12-13 June 2023
At the inaugural Australia-US Strategic Dialogue on Gender Equality, discussions address longstanding and emergent challenges to, and opportunities for achieving, gender equality, as well as protecting and promoting the human rights of all women and girls.
2022
International Ministerial Conference on Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI), 28-29 November 2022
At the PSVI International Conference in London, Australia made a national statement and joined over 50 countries in endorsing the Declaration on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence. The Declaration calls for the international community to accelerate action to end conflict-related sexual violence, hold those responsible to account, shatter the existing culture of impunity, and provide more comprehensive support to survivors. Conflict-related sexual violence is an abuse of human rights. Australia is steadfast in supporting survivors of sexual violence, and in seeing an end to all forms of sexual and gender-based violence. We maintain zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment in all contexts, operations and missions.
International Women’s Day
The 2022 United Nations theme for International Women’s Day is Changing climates: Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow. This year we recognise the women and girls who are leading the charge on climate change adaptation, mitigation, and response, to build a sustainable future for all. Watch Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women speak about Australia’s support for socially inclusive and gender-responsive climate action and policy.
2021
Australia Condemns Sexual Violence as Weapon of War in Joint International Statement
The Australian Government is proud to join the international United Kingdom-led statement condemning the use of sexual violence and rape as weapons of war.
Former Foreign Ministers statement: Australia Condemns Sexual Violence as Weapon of War in Joint International Statement, 18 November 2021
Strengthening international cooperation to combat sexual violence in conflict
Australia joined a UK-led statement – with Canada, New Zealand, Indonesia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia and Liberia – to strengthen international cooperation to combat sexual violence in conflict.
Full statement: Strengthening international cooperation to combat sexual violence in conflict
2020
Beijing +25 (link)
Australian Statement: High-level meeting on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, delivered by former Minister for Foreign Affairs and former Minister for Women Senator the Honourable Marise Payne, 1 October 2020 [DOCX 23 KB] | [PDF 115 KB]
Archives
Gender declarations (archived 8 November 2019)