The Australian Government is deeply committed to supporting the United Nations Women, Peace and Security agenda to ensure better outcomes for women and girls in conflict and post-conflict settings, and considered a global leader in this space.
The Australian National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2012–2018 (National Action Plan) is a whole of government policy, coordinated by the Office for Women, to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325) and related resolutions under the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
UNSCR 1325 recognises that the experiences and needs of women and girls differ from those of men and boys in conflict and post-conflict situations, particularly in relation to human rights violations such as sexual and gender-based violence. UNSCR 1325 also underlines the essential role of women in conflict prevention, management and resolution.
The National Action Plan sets out Australia’s actions in the domestic and international arenas to integrate a gender perspective into peace and security efforts; protect women’s and girls’ human rights; and promote their participation in conflict prevention, management and resolution.
Australia’s first National Action Plan was launched on International Women’s Day, 8 March 2012, at Garden Island, Sydney. As Australia’s National Action Plan comes close to its end, the Government is designing the second Australian National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2019-2029.
The Government is committed to regularly reviewing progress made to implementing the National Action Plan and develops progress reports every two years. Under the current National Action the Government has released:
- The 2014 Progress Report of the Australian National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2012–2018 was tabled in parliament on 15 July 2014. This is the first progress report and covers the period from the commencement of the National Action Plan in March 2012 to December 2013.
- The 2016 Progress Report on the Australian National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2012–2018 was launched and tabled in parliament on 28 April 2017. This is the second progress report and covers the period 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2015.
- The 2018 Progress Report on the Australian National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2012-2018 was tabled in parliament 31 July 2018. This is the third progress report and covers the period 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2017.
The National Action Plan commits the Government to commission two independent reviews of the National Action Plan. The 2015 Independent Interim Review of the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2012–2018 was released on 8 April 2016. The findings and recommendations from the interim review provide guidance for the implementation of the remainder of the National Action Plan and for the development of the next National Action Plan. The final independent review, to be undertaken in 2018, will provide further guidance and assistance during the development of the next National Action Plan.
The Final Independent Review of the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2012-2018 was released on 12 December 2018. The findings and recommendations of the independent final review provide guidance on the design of Australia’s second National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.
As a means to promote UNSCR 1325 and the Women, Peace and Security agenda, the Australian Civil-Military Centre and UN Women, with the support of the Office for Women and the Australian Federal Police, produced a documentary available on YouTube entitled Side by Side: Women, Peace and Security. The documentary is used as an educational tool for pre-deployment military, police, civilian and humanitarian personnel to international, missions.
The documentary is complemented by the Side by Side: Women, Peace and Security Educational Toolkit, which includes exercises, lesson plans and facilitators’ notes for trainers and educators of pre-deployed peacekeepers.
Links and Publications
- 2018 Independent Final Review of the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2012-2018
- 2016 Progress Report on the Australian National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2012–2018
- Independent Interim Review of the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2012–2018
- 2014 Progress Report Australian National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2012-2018
- Australian National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2012-2018
- Side by Side documentary transcript
- Toolkit Booklet - Side by Side Women, Peace and Security
- Women, Peace and Security Educational Toolkit
