Submissions now open to inform the Australian Government’s specific priorities for the 63^rd Session on the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW63).

Broadly speaking, the Australian Government has a range of priorities for the achievement of global gender equality, including:

• The prevention and elimination of all forms of gender-based violence, including harmful traditional practices.
• Increasing women’s economic security by accelerating women’s participation in the paid workforce and enabling better access to finance, trade opportunities, and information, digital and communications technology.
• Including women in leadership and decision-making roles in all areas of society including at all levels of government, the private sector, the broader community and in conflict and post-conflict zones.
• Better health and education outcomes for women and girls with a focus on access to quality, affordable services including in relation to women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights.
• Recognition of the importance of working with men and boys, and the role of civil society, National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and human rights defenders as agents of change in ensuring gender equality and the protection of the human rights of women and girls.

The Australian Government delegation will also continue to assess international gender standards , including:

• Sustainable Development Goals
• Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women
• Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

Your submission will inform the Australian Government’s position during negotiations of the CSW63 Agreed Conclusions and other related resolutions.

Submissions should not exceed 2-pages and should be submitted to: womensbranchinternational@pmc.gov.au

Submissions must be lodged with Office for Women by 11.59pm Sunday 3 February 2019