A progress report on Government activities to improve the lives of women caught up in conflict has been tabled in Parliament by the Minister for Women, Kelly O’Dwyer.
Ms O’Dwyer presented the United Nations Progress Report of the Australian National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2012-2018 saying it outlined the activities Australia had undertaken in 2017 to improve the lives of women in conflict and post-conflict settings.
“Key achievements outlined in the report include 100 per cent of Australian Defence Force personnel deployed overseas now trained in the Women, Peace and Security agenda, compared to a baseline of 53 per cent in 2012,” Ms O’Dwyer said.
“The Australian Federal Police continues to collaborate with partners, local non-government organisations and civil society to strengthen partner police response to gender based violence in the Pacific.”
She said the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was expanding the reach of the Women, Peace and Security agenda through its advocacy in multilateral and regional forums, and through its participation in dedicated dialogues such as the National Focal Points Network on Women, Peace and Security.
She said the Government recognised that women could be powerful agents for change, and this was demonstrated in Australia’s foreign policy and aid program.
The 144-page progress report can be accessed at this PS News link.
