Today the Turnbull Government tabled the 2016 Progress Report on the Australian National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2012–2018 in Parliament.
The Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, said women and girls are disproportionately affected by conflict, but are also proven and effective agents of change.
“Women play an important role in preventing and managing conflict and promoting sustainable peace,” Minister Cash said.
The Australian National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2012-2018 (National Action Plan) is a whole-of-government approach to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325) and related Security Council resolutions that comprise the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
Minister Cash reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to the United Nations Women, Peace and Security agenda.
“We have demonstrated Australia’s ongoing commitment through the implementation of the Australian National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2012–201, our international aid efforts, bilateral and multilateral advocacy and Australia’s leadership initiatives,” Minister Cash said.
The Women, Peace and Security principles have been imbedded in the Australian Defence Force. One hundred per cent of the 1,525 deployed personnel from the Australian Defence Force have now completed training on Women, Peace and Security – up from 53 per cent in 2013.
The Australian Federal Police also increased the number of deployed personnel receiving Women, Peace and Security training, rising from 69 per cent in the 2014 Progress Report, to 85 per cent by December 2015.
Under the National Action Plan, Australia integrates a gender perspective into peace and security efforts, protects women’s and girls’ human rights – especially in relation to gender-based violence – and promotes women’s participation in conflict prevention, management and resolution.
“Australia is one of the leading nations in this space and I look forward to continuing to work with my Ministerial, civil society and global counterparts to protect and empower women around the world,” Minister Cash said.
The Australian Government reports on progress made under the National Action Plan every two years. This is the second Progress Report covering the period from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2015.
For more information about the National Action Plan visit https://www.dpmc.gov.au/office-women/international-forums