On Tuesday, 3 December 2019, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, asked the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade - Human Rights Sub-Committee to inquire into the human rights of women and girls in the Pacific.

The Committee invited submissions addressing any or all of the terms of reference for the inquiry by Thursday, 27 August 2020. On 18 June 2021, the Committee held a public hearing in Canberra. 

On 29 November 2021, the Committee tabled its report Inquiry into the human rights of women and girls in the Pacific in the House of Representatives.