Australia thanks the Working Group for its report on girls’ and young women’s activism.

The advocacy of women and girls of all ages, backgrounds and identities is essential for eliminating all forms of discrimination. Women’s and girls’ activism has been critical to progress on human rights and will continue to be so in the future.

However, violations of women’s and girls’ rights to freedom of expression, of assembly and association, and to participate in public affairs, hinder their activism. These risks are particularly acute for girls. States must address the structural and cultural barriers to young women’s and girls’ activism, and combat gender-based discrimination and violence, including technology-facilitated abuse, inflicted on women and girl activists.

Australia is committed to working with, and protecting space for, civil society, especially women and girl human rights defenders. We collaborate with civil society in implementation of our National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.

We ask the Working Group to share good practices in promoting and amplifying girls’ and young women’s activism, while ensuring their safety.