International representation and participation
6.1 The Australian Government is a strong supporter and participant in positive and active engagement at international forums to influence international debates, policies and programs towards achieving gender equality globally. Progress on gender equality is an integral part of reaching the Millennium Development Goals. For more information about the Millennium Development Goals, see paragraphs 2.35 and 2.36.
Australian women's international participation
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
6.2 At June 2008, women comprised 52.1 per cent of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade employees, an increase from 48.1 per cent in 2004. Women make up 26.6 per cent of the department's senior executive service, up from 23.5 per cent in 2004. Just over 43.0 per cent of the department's employees posted overseas are women, which is a slight increase from 38.9 per cent in 2004. Of Australia's 91 people serving overseas as heads of mission or post, 22 are women.
6.3 One of the three current Australian Permanent Representatives to the United Nations is a woman. Data on the number of women appointed to represent Australia on United Nations bodies are not available at this time.
6.4 Women hold key positions in the Office of Trade Negotiations in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and are well represented on delegations to negotiations, including at the World Trade Organization. At the time of writing, the department's senior agricultural negotiator in the World Trade Organization Doha round was a woman.
Austrade-the Australian Government's trade agency
6.5 In June 2008, women made up 19.4 per cent of Austrade's Senior Executive Staff located overseas.
AusAID-Australian Agency for International Development
6.6 In 2008, women comprise 59 per cent of AusAID employees, up from 57.3 per cent in 2004. Of AusAID employees posted overseas, 50.78 per cent are women, down from 61 per cent in 2004. However, the total number of women working in overseas posts has increased from 38 in 2004 to 65 in 2008.
Department of Immigration and Citizenship
6.7 In 2007-08, women comprised 51 per cent of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship's 160 overseas representatives. This is a large increase compared to the period 2003-05 when the percentage of women representing the department overseas was 42 per cent.
Department of Defence
6.8 Women currently make up 13 per cent of the permanent Australian Defence Force (approximately 7,000 of 52,500) and 5 per cent of personnel deployed on military operations (approximately 200 of 3,500). Women also represent 10 per cent of Australian Defence Force personnel (approximately 85 of 850) and 18.5 per cent of Department of Defence public servants (approximately 25 of 135) currently on overseas assignments. These numbers and percentages have remained consistent since 2003.
Australian Federal Police
6.9 As at May 2007, women comprised 19.3 per cent of Australian Federal Police overseas representatives. This is slightly down from 23.3 per cent in 2003-02.
Peacekeeping
6.10 Recognising the vital role of United Nations peacekeepers in protecting civilians from violence, including sexual violence, the Australian Government is committed to women's representation in peacekeeping missions. Nearly 20 per cent of Australian police personnel involved in peacekeeping missions are women. Not only are women deployed by Australia, they also hold senior roles within these missions.
Australian women at international forums
6.11 The Australian Government supports and promotes the participation of women at international forums with a focus on women's issues, in particular the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Women Leaders' Network.
6.12 The Executive Director of the Office for Women routinely leads the Australian Government delegation to the Commission on the Status of Women, often with participation of the Australian Sex Discrimination Commissioner. The Government continues to support the participation of representatives from non-government organisations at the Commission, with four delegates attending in 2008. In 2009, the Government will fund participation of one female non-government expert and one female Indigenous delegate at the Commission.
6.13 In 2007, Australia hosted the 12th meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Women Leaders' Network, bringing together over 400 women leaders, representing business, government, academia and civil society. Several senior Australian women from government, and the judicial, academic and business sectors represented Australia at the 13th Women Leaders' Network meeting.
6.14 State and territory governments also support women's participation at international forums-for example, the Victorian Government supported women to attend the four-yearly World Congress of Rural Women held in South Africa in April 2007. The Victorian Office for Women's Policy assisted in sourcing and securing philanthropic support to assist two Indigenous women to attend the congress. The aim of the congress is to discuss universal and wide-ranging issues confronting rural women and to share experiences of success in addressing these issues.
6.15 In 2007, the Northern Territory Government offered Remote Workforce Development Scholarships to provide employees from remote localities with access to professional development activities. Scholarships were awarded to two female Indigenous Community Police Officers to attend the 45th International Association of Women Police Conference in Denver, Colorado. This year Darwin is hosting the conference, which is expected to attract more than 500 interstate and international police members and visitors.