Chair's Foreword

Despite efforts to enhance the rights of women and children over many decades, the world is failing its most vulnerable cohorts. Violence, exploitation, abuse, and other forms of human rights breaches remain prevalent across the globe. This situation has been evident in past inquiries conducted by this Committee.

However, the harms experienced by women and children have been amplified to staggering degrees by broader societal shifts and phenomena, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the increasingly felt impacts of climate change, and political and societal instability and conflict. It is in this context that the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong, referred this inquiry to the Committee, noting in the terms of reference that these elements have been a major disruptor in eliminating inequality.

The terms of reference broadly encapsulate the vast scope of the issues facing national governments in addressing the rights of women and children. Resultingly, the Committee received evidence on a range of issues impacting the lives of women and children, both internationally and within Australia.

Almost every stakeholder told the Committee that the rights of women and children are far from reaching parity with men; rather, they are regressing. Factors such as COVID, climate and conflict have only brought further hardship on women and children. This appears to have brought a ‘new normal’ to the fore: a world where it is harder to be a woman or a child by virtue of your status as such.

While this inquiry has been on foot, the Australian Government has announced a suite of measures in relation to women and children in foreign policy considerations and designs, much of which will take time to be fully implemented and to see measurable results. However, the Committee has judged that further reforms in this space are appropriate and would enhance the rights of women and children in addition to upholding Australia’s obligations under international human rights law and multilateral agreements.

The Committee has made 10 recommendations that address specific issues in relation to the rights of women and children, including on matters such as gender-based violence, orphanage trafficking, acid attacks and technology-facilitated abuse. It has also made recommendations that focus on the broader strategic policy environment, including the development of a child-specific international strategy akin to the current strategy in relation to gender.

I wish to extend my thanks to the many organisations and witnesses who provided evidence to the committee, often detailing harrowing and distressing experiences. The Committee was humbled to be in the presence of those who have suffered so much while continuing to fight for improved outcomes for all, and greatly appreciates their efforts. It also appreciated the evidence provided by many stakeholders in the aid sector who continue their efforts to protect the global community from human rights abuse.

It is incumbent on us all, as part of an Australian multicultural society and the global community, to pursue the full assertion and protection of the rights of women and children. We cannot afford anything less.

Ms Maria Vamvakinou MPChairHuman Rights Subcommittee