In October 2025, Australia attended the G20 Empowerment of Women Working Group’s (EWWG) final meeting for the year in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The Working Group aims to promote gender equality, women's empowerment and inclusive economic growth. This year, the group discussed three key priority issues:
- Gender-based violence
- Economic equality and inclusion
- Paid and unpaid care
Australia’s representative, Padma Raman PSM, Executive Director of the Office for Women, delivered Australia’s National Statement. The statement highlighted the importance of safeguarding international commitments to gender equality and the importance of investing in women’s economic empowerment as an essential foundation for sustainable and economic global growth.
Friday, 31 October 2025
Delivered by Head of Delegation, Ms Padma Raman
Good afternoon, Goeie middag
I extend my deep gratitude to our hosts, South Africa, and specifically to Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga, and the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities who have been generous hosts not just this week, but throughout the year for the Empowerment of Women Working Group.
Coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, South Africa’s G20 presidency marks a historic opportunity to elevate African women’s leadership in shaping inclusive global economic policies.
As Executive Director of Australia’s Office for Women, it is my privilege to represent Australia on behalf of our Minister for Women, as we convene to advance our shared goal of achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.
Australia is a longstanding supporter of advancing gender equality and mainstreaming gender as a G20 priority.
Under Australia’s 2014 presidency, we supported the establishment of the Brisbane Goal, a commitment to reduce the gendered gap in labour force participation by 25 per cent by 2025. This year, we welcomed the extension of the goal to 2030 and the new Brisbane–eThekwini Goal, and encourage all G20 members to achieve them.
Since 2019, Australia has been an avid supporter of the G20 EMPOWER Alliance targeting private sector effort towards women’s economic representation and leadership.
In 2023, under India’s presidency, Australia welcomed the establishment of the EWWG on the G20 Sherpa track.
This is because we know that our economy is strengthened by the full, equal and meaningful participation and leadership of all people, and this must include all women and girls.
In Australia, we are embedding gender equality into the very architecture of our economy through gender-responsive budgeting, being the first country to introduce it in 1984. Australia is proud of our progress to close the gender pay gap – with the lowest ever reported figure of 11.5% this year. Concurrently, women’s workforce participation has hit a record high in Australia – growing to 63.5%. Our Parliament is more representative than ever before, with a gender-equal Cabinet in a government of more than 50 percent women.
Our gender equality strategy Working for Women recognises that we need to make progress against five key domains to achieve gender equality. Eradicating violence against women; balancing paid and unpaid care; women’s economic security; women’s health; and representation in decision-making. These domains mirror the priorities chosen by the South African Presidency for our Working Group.
It is a 10-year strategy because we know there is much more to be done. In 2025, sustaining efforts towards gender equality is more urgent than ever before. Progress will require the collective commitment of all of us gathered here today.
10 years from the establishment of SDG 5 on gender equality, not one country is on track to meet this goal by 2030. Global progress on gender equality is not just stalled, but regressing. Climate change, geopolitics and conflict threaten to further set back progress. As we mark the 25th anniversary of the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, we must also acknowledge the ongoing impact of armed conflict on women and girls.
In these dire global circumstances, as the top 20 global economies, we must safeguard gender equality. We must stand up against the backsliding, call it out and take collective action.
G20 strength lies in our ability to act in times of crisis. At the bare minimum, we must stand together in upholding long-standing and agreed language on gender equality in international agreements. This language is not just words on a page. It embodies our shared commitments to advancing the human rights and improving the lives of women and girls globally. It is vital to safeguard the hard-won progress achieved through decades of collective effort.
I note we have spent over 100 hours in the Working Group to negotiate the text of the Declaration (now Chair’s Statement) – largely to try and halt the regression on gender equality.
Nations thrive when we invest in women’s economic empowerment. Women and girls’ voices are an essential part of the foundation of sustainable and inclusive economic global growth.
We must continue with conviction to drive efforts towards a more equal world.
Thank you.
The talks will inform the G20 Leaders’ Summit taking place in late November 2025.
Australia has been a member of the G20 since it began in 1999 and has long been committed to advancing gender equality as a G20 priority.
By participating in international forums such as the Empowerment of Women Working Group, Australia makes a meaningful contribution to advancing equal opportunities for women and girls globally.