The Office for Women provides input into proposed resolutions by the United Nations General Assembly and the Human Rights Council. It also has responsibility for coordinating the Australian Government’s reporting obligations under a number of international agreements:
- The 2030 Agenda: Sustainable Development Goals
- The Beijing Platform for Action review (BPFA) process
- Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)
The 2030 Agenda: Sustainable Development Goals
Australia adopted the 2030 Agenda in 2015. Australia has committed to deliver our first Voluntary National Review in July 2018.
Visit Australia’s Sustainable Development Goals page for more information.
The Beijing Platform for Action (BPFA) review process
Every five years, states are called upon to review progress made against the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, in particular noting any achievements and challenges in implementing progress on the 12 critical areas of concern.
Australia participated in the regional review in November 2014. As part of this work, the Australian Government undertook a comprehensive national-level review consulting across government, on the progress, achievements and challenges in promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Australia also responded to the 2014 Asia-Pacific Survey on Progress in Implementation of the 12 Critical Areas of Concern of the Beijing Platform for Action. States' national reports and survey responses informed a series of regional meetings with the subsequent outcomes documents from these meetings informing the global review, which was a focus of the 59th Session on the Commission on the Status of Women in March 2015.
Review years are critical for assessing progress towards implementation of the BPFA internationally and determining the way ahead toward the goal of gender equality and women’s empowerment. Australia’s next review will take place in 2019.
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)
Australia is a signatory to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), and is a party to the Optional Protocol to CEDAW.
As a signatory, the Australian Government submits national reports on measures they have taken to comply with their treaty obligations. The Office for Women undertakes coordination of these reports, drawing on information from across Government.
The Australian Government will appear before the CEDAW committee in 2018, where Australia's 8th Report will be presented.
