MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
AusAID
The Advisory Board of the Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development initiative
held its first meeting in Canberra on 10 April.
The Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development initiative is a major ten-year initiative which aims to improve political, social and economic opportunities for women in the Pacific islands region. The initiative was announced by Prime Minister Julia Gillard at the August 2012 Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting.
Women in the Pacific experience some of the worst levels of domestic violence and sexual assault in the world, and the region has the lowest level of female representation in Parliaments anywhere in the world. At their annual meeting in August 2012, the leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum vowed collectively to address this situation.
The Advisory Board comprises a number of eminent Pacific Island women and men. It provides advice to AusAID on the direction of the initiative, ensuring it responds to the needs of Pacific island countries and takes into account Pacific Island beliefs and culture. The members of the Advisory Board are strong advocates for gender equality in their own communities.
James Batley, AusAID's Deputy Director General and Chair of the Advisory Board, said that nations thrive when women can participate in politics, business and society as equals.
'Investing in women's empowerment is not just the right thing to do, but the smart thing to do,' Mr Batley said.
The UN has estimated that low female participation in labour markets in the Asia–Pacific region costs the region up to US$47 billion each year.
'The Advisory Board provides a Pacific voice and important direction to the Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development initiative, which strives to break down barriers to gender equality and economic participation for women living in the Pacific,' Mr Batley said.
The Board commended AusAID on the strategic direction of the initiative and on it approach to early implementation of activities.
The initiative will support gender equality through partnerships with Pacific governments, non-government organisations including churches and traditional leadership groups, the private sector, and multilateral, regional and United Nations agencies.
Through Australia's support, the initiative aims to increase the proportion of women represented in Pacific island parliaments, improve access to finance for more than 30,000 female market vendors and improve safety for women, through services for victims of violence and access to justice.
James Batley, AusAID's Deputy Director General, is available for interview.
Media contact: AusAID Media 0417 680 590