Strengthening Australia’s commitment
Australia is a signatory to the major human rights treaty for women, the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
In March 2009 Australia strengthened its commitment to addressing discrimination against women by becoming party to the CEDAW Optional Protocol.
The Optional Protocol allows individuals to bring a complaint directly to the UN CEDAW Committee, after all domestic remedies have been exhausted. The Optional Protocol also allows the CEDAW Committee to investigate claims of serious violations of CEDAW in Australia.
Accession to the Optional Protocol makes a powerful statement that discrimination against women – in Australia and internationally – is unacceptable.
Monitoring and reporting on Australia’s progress
The CEDAW Committee monitors progress on implementing the Convention primarily by considering the reports of state parties.
The Office for Women ensures that Australia fulfils our obligations under CEDAW by working with agencies across Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments, and regularly reporting to the United Nations on our progress. The Office for Women prepares Australia’s reports to the CEDAW Committee every four years.
Australia presented its most recent report, Australia’s combined sixth and seventh report on the implementation of CEDAW, in 2008 and will present this report to the committee in 2010. Australia’s 2003 report was submitted to the UN in 2006, when a delegation also appeared before the Committee.
In developing Australia’s combined sixth and seventh report on the implementation of the CEDAW, the Office for Women held community consultations in every capital city and met with more than 100 state, territory and national organisations.
Four roundtable discussions with women with disabilities, women from migrant and refugee backgrounds, women from rural and regional areas, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women were held to gain greater insight into the views and concerns held by these groups.
Women’s Human Rights Education Kit
The Education Kit is designed to complement Australia’s Combined Sixth and Seventh Report on the Implementation of CEDAW, 2008. It provides a simple guide to human rights and serves as an invaluable source of information about CEDAW and the Optional Protocol.