Celebrating 100 years of International Women's Day
The Australian Government joins with women in Australia and around the world in celebrating the centenary of International Women's Day.
This day provides an opportunity to reflect on the role women have played in leading change in their communities. It is also an opportunity to consider what more can be done to achieve equality between women and men.
During the past century the world has witnessed the status of women being raised in many countries from the extension of the right to vote, to paid employment and recognition of women's basic human rights.
Australia is working to achieve gender equality and women's empowerment. This is crucial to reducing poverty, advancing democracy and improving the wellbeing of women, girls, their families and communities.
Equipped with skills, knowledge and resources, young women and girls can be a powerful force in changing lives and communities around them.
The Australian Government is partnering with UN Women Australia in hosting International Women's Day events around the country. Women and men will come together across Australia at more than 100 events to raise awareness about issues facing women around the world.
Working with strong champions
Strong champions are required in global efforts to promote gender equality and empower women. The new United Nations organisation, UN Women, will campaign for women and girls, and give women a powerful and influential voice at the global, regional and local levels. Australia will provide $14.5 million to UN Women over two years from 2011 to support international efforts to empower women and promote gender equality.
Supporting and strengthening women leaders
Australia's international development assistance program is working to ensure that the needs and views of women and men are reflected in decision making at community and national levels. Women's participation is not just about seats in parliament. It is about influencing change at all levels. This includes the social, political and economic decisions affecting women's lives and the lives of their families and their communities.
Australia is supporting women in the Solomon Islands to build confidence and realise their potential through the Women's Leadership and Mentoring Program. This initiative supports female leaders and emerging female leaders within government, civil society and the private sector. It has so far helped 100 women build their leadership skills, bringing together women with a diverse range of experience to explore themes including leadership, lifelong learning and the power of listening.
Australia is working with women community leaders in the displaced persons camps on the Thai side of the Thailand-Burma border. AusAID supports the Thailand Burma Border Consortium, an alliance of 11 non-government organisations, including Act for Peace from Australia, to work with displaced people of Burma.
The Thai Burma Border Consortium are working to involve women in central camp decision-making bodies, which has lead to a significant increase in the number of women refugees taking up leadership roles in the camps as section or zone leaders.
For example, in 2006, the overall proportion of women involved in food distribution was only around 11 per cent–this figure currently stands at a border-wide average of 32 per cent. This means that women now have better control of issues affecting life in the camps such as food distribution, water, sanitation and education.
More information
- Women leading change–AusAID's support for women's leadership and decision making
- UN Women [external website]
- UN Women International Women's Day [external website]