International Engagement

The Office for Women promotes women's human rights and gender equality at international forums.

Working with other Departments and Agencies, we play a key role in developing and coordinating the Australian Government’s policy advice on international matters affecting women.

United Nations

• 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.
• Australia also participates in the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), and
• conducts periodical reviews of the Beijing Platform for Action.

Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation

• Australia is a member of the APEC Women Leaders’ Network, and
• the APEC Gender Focal Point Network.

Commonwealth

• As a Commonwealth member country, Australia contributes to the Commonwealth Plan of Action for Gender Equality 2005-2015, and
• participates in the Women’s Affairs Minister’s Meetings (WAMMs)

Fact Sheets

• International priorities for women
  An overview of Australia’s international engagement on women’s rights and gender equality.