since the submission of Australia’s response to the UNESCAP Questionnaire on the implementation of the outcome of the Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing 1995)
The Australian Government provided a response to the UNESCAP Questionnaire on the implementation of the outcome of the Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing 1995) in April 2009. Since Australia's response was submitted to UNESCAP, the Government has announced a number of key initiatives which further support Australia's progress in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
The Australian Government's response to the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children
On 29 April 2009, the Australian Government released Time for Action, a report by the National Council to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children.
The report makes recommendations for a sustained new level of investment in primary prevention and the justice system, giving all governments and the community clear directions about helping Australian women live free of violence, within respectful relationships and in safe communities.
The report sets a framework for social change through the achievement of six outcomes, delivered through 25 strategies and 117 actions. The outcomes are as follows:
- Communities are safe and free from violence;
- Relationships are respectful;
- Services meet the needs of women and their children;
- Responses are just;
- Perpetrators stop their violence;
- Systems work together effectively.
The Government supports the direction of Time for Action and the need for action in each of the six outcome areas. The Government will take Time for Action to the Council of Australian Governments and will work with the State and Territory governments to develop the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women for release in 2010.
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Paid Parental Leave
On 10 May 2009, the Government announced the introduction of a Paid Parental Leave scheme in Australia. The paid parental leave scheme will help parents spend more time with their children, leading to improved health and wellbeing for parents and children. It will promote women's continued engagement in the workforce and help to secure their long term economic outcomes. Paid parental leave is also important to building equality between women and men. The Government-funded paid parental leave scheme will apply to births and adoptions after 1 January 2011.
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Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA) Review
On 1 June 2009, the Government announced a review of the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999 ('the EOWW Act') and its agency.
Over the last decade, the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA) has worked with thousands of large businesses across Australia to improve women's opportunities in the workplace. The review will examine the efficiency and effectiveness of the EOWW Act and consider how the Government can further support employers to remove barriers to equal employment opportunity and improve outcomes for women in Australian workplaces. It has been 11 years since the last review and the Government is keen to ensure that this approach to equal opportunity is positioned to achieve real and sustainable outcomes for women.
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Providing more choice in maternity care
In the 2009-10 Budget the Government announced a $120.5 million package of measures to improve choice and access to maternity services for pregnant women and new mothers in Australia.
The package recognises the important role played by qualified midwives in the birthing experience of many Australian women and will provide families with greater choice in the type of care they wish to receive when having a baby.
The Government also committed to a National Maternity Services Plan which recognises the importance attached to maternity services by the over 270,000 Australian women who give birth each year, and their families.
The package will be implemented progressively with new Medicare arrangements for midwives beginning from 1 November 2010.
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People Trafficking
On 17 June 2009 the Australian Government announced changes to Australia's anti-people trafficking strategy to provide improved support for victims. The changes will simplify the framework, enable a wider range of victims to access support and improve services to victims and their families.
The changes to the Government's Support for Victims of People Trafficking Program and the People Trafficking Visa Framework recognise the particular vulnerabilities of victims of trafficking and provide a more flexible framework to support victims and their families.
Importantly, victims of trafficking on any valid Australian visa will now be able to access support under the Program which includes intensive support for the first 45 days after identification and may include an additional 45 days of support to victims who are willing, but not able, to participate in the criminal justice process. The Program also provides individualised case management and includes income assistance, access to accommodation, medical treatment, basic legal advice, counselling, training and social support.