MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
I am pleased to announce the release of a new Gender and Development Policy
for the Australian aid program.
Improving the lives of people in developing countries can be achieved through
providing opportunities for both women and men to participate fully in all
development activities. The new policy supports and guides this goal.
Over the years the aid program has refined and improved its approach to
achieving this goal. The new policy recognises that achieving gender equality
requires a focus on both men's and women's roles and responsibilities. By
recognising and responding to the distinct issues facing men and women in
developing countries, Australia can channel its aid equitably and
productively.
The Australian Government is aware that to date women and men have not shared
equally in the benefits of development. Women today constitute nearly 70 per
cent of the world's poor. Almost two thirds of all illiterate people in the
world are women. Women and their dependants constitute 80 per cent of the
world's 18 million refugees. Australia is making an effort, through the aid
program, to help improve this situation.
For example, a project in Flores, Indonesia, has involved women from the
beginning in planning and implementing activities to improve local water supply
and sanitation. In Flores women and their children are the major water
collectors and users and women are also the major caretakers of children and the
sick. By ensuring that women's needs are known, and encouraging their
participation in decision making at every stage, the project aims to improve
nutrition and hygiene standards as well as provide cleaner water to a greater
number of users.
The new policy's objectives are practical and forward looking. They include
improving women's access to education, health care and economic resources. A
major priority will be to ensure that the needs of women and men are considered
at all levels of the aid program.
Australia's new policy on Gender and Development will feed into international
best practice on the best way to meet the specific needs of women in developing
countries. It will be used by the contractors, consultants and NGOs which
deliver Australia's aid program. This will lead to increased long-term benefits
from development activities for both women and men.
Media contact: Peter Collins (Mr Downer's Officer) 06 277 7500
0411 414 695 Jane Castles (AusAID) 06 206 4968