Budget 2008-09 > Women's Budget Statement 2008-09 > Women's International Engagement
Women's Budget Statement 2008-09 - Women's International Engagement
The Government is committed to positive and active engagement at international fora to protect Australia's interests and to influence international debates, policies and programs towards achieving gender equality globally. This will improve the status of women, enable them to participate fully in economic growth and increase their business opportunities.Budget and other measures
United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)
The Government is working to ratify the Optional Protocol to CEDAW. The Optional Protocol establishes a procedure for individuals and groups of women to complain about violations of CEDAW by Australia. Complaints can only be made once all domestic legal avenues are exhausted.Preparation is well underway for Australia's combined 6th and 7th report to the UN on our implementation of CEDAW, due in August 2008. To inform the report, the Government is undertaking extensive consultations involving community organisations and State and Territory Governments.
The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) and APEC Women Leaders' Network
The UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is the highest forum on women's issues in the UN and meets annually to discuss critical and emerging issues of concern to women globally. The Government is committed to ensuring Australia is appropriately represented at CSW each year.The APEC Women Leaders' Network (WLN) is a critical vehicle for promoting regional prosperity. The WLN is a network of women from the 21 APEC economies representing business, academia, government and non-government organisations. The Australian Government is playing a key role in the APEC WLN meeting in May 2008, presenting new research on women in trade and export.
United Nation's Partnership for Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
The Government will commence a $200 million package of initiatives to boost progress towards the MDGs. Strengthened partnerships with seven key UN agencies will boost their capacity to lead global efforts to realise the MDGs. Australia will contribute directly to the UN's efforts on issues as diverse as increasing child literacy, improving maternal and child health and the empowerment of women.Progress on gender equality is an integral part of achieving the MDGs. Australia is working to implement international best practice in the area of gender equality, focusing on areas where least progress has been made in narrowing the gender gap such as improving women's economic status, expanding their participation in decision-making and strengthening their leadership. Specific development assistance initiatives to promote gender equality and empower women include:
- An evaluation on violence against women;
- A leadership program, Advancing Gender Equality in Pacific Governance: Stronger Women's Citizens and Leaders;
- The Women Entrepreneurs Program is working on reforms that improve business opportunities for women in the Pacific; and
- The community empowerment program, Local Governance and Infrastructure for Communities, develops the confidence and leadership skills of over 2,300 village representatives in Aceh, Indonesia, of whom more than half are women.