Committee on Elimination of

Discrimination against Women

935^th & 936^th Meetings* (AM & PM)

Australia Boasts Strides in Women’s Empowerment, But Admits Durable Challenges,

Especially Facing Indigenous Women, Girls, Anti-Discrimination Committee Told

Experts Worry Lack of Comprehensive Federal-level Legislation to Address

Violence against Women Makes Systemized, Minimal Standards Tough to Sustain

In today’s meeting of the Women’s Anti-Discrimination Committee, Australia heralded the notable strides it had made through advocacy, policy, legislation and national strategies to empower women, asserting that it rated well against international measures of success, but acknowledged, too, the remaining challenges, especially facing indigenous women and girls, in reducing violence against women, improving women’s economic security, and ensuring women’s equal place in society.

Some of the successes, noted Helen Hambling, Group Manager, Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, and alternative head of the Australian delegation, had included the introduction of a AU$1 billion strategy to improve the lives of indigenous Australians, increased funding for women’s advocacy and childcare, and introduction of the first national paid parental-leave scheme.  Work was also under way on a National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children.

Women’s growing presence in governmental bodies was also evident, she said, highlighting the fact that women now accounted for almost one third of parliamentarians, while seven ministerial positions, including the Prime Minister, and the Governor General — the highest public position — were held by women.  Since 1995, women’s ranks increased by three-fold, and of the seven High Court justices, three were women.

A National Human Rights Consultation had been launched in December 2008 to enquire about the protection and promotion of human rights and responsibilities in Australia, she said, reporting on the overwhelming national response after the initiative had reached almost 70 community forums involving 5,000 registered participants.  That response underpinned “ Australia’s Human Rights Framework”.  Providing funding over four years, the framework would focus on education for community and public sectors, a National Human Rights Action Plan and the establishment of a Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, to name a few.

The passage of the Paid Parental Leave Act 2010 was another new initiative which would begin in January 2011 and entitle parents of newborns or adopted children paid parental leave, she said.  Although women would be the majority beneficiary of that new programme, there was a note of pride that more Australian men were choosing to be the primary caregiver in their child’s first year.  Efforts to improve childcare for working parents, as well, resulted in more than AU$17 billion being invested in early childhood education, care and the cost of care for Australian families over the next four years.

There were still challenges to be faced, she acknowledged, pointing in particular, to the need to improve the lives of indigenous Australians and Torres Strait Islander women and girls.  To that end, the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples — gender-balanced in terms of leadership and decision-making participation — had just been launched.  Another recently funded initiative was the Indigenous Women’s Programme, which supported and responded to the specific needs of indigenous women.

Reducing the persistent and “unacceptable levels” of violence towards Australian women has been another focus of the Government, she said.  It has been completing its National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children prior to the election and had swiftly approved 18 of the 20 recommendations made by the National Council, among them, a new telephone and online crisis service and a social marketing campaign addressing attitudes and behaviours that contributed to the violence.

Even with federal elections coming up in August, and the possibility of a change of government, Australia’s commitment to create strategies to integrate gender equality across all aspects of society, in particular, in the lives of women from disadvantaged backgrounds, was firmly in place, the delegate stressed.

Committee experts, functioning in their personal capacity to monitor the compliance of States parties with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, expressed concerns throughout the day, however, at the absence of comprehensive federal legislation to address violence against women, which, they said, led to legislation being instituted on a state and territory level.  With such a system, they felt that systemized and minimal standards were difficult to sustain.  Related queries came up about plans to institute mechanisms to strengthen anti-discrimination laws across Australia.

Questions were also raised about funding for legal assistance and the availability of family law services for women victims of domestic violence, women with disabilities and other populations of vulnerable women.  And, experts asked how the Government ensured that women, women from vulnerable populations, and, specifically, indigenous women were being incorporated into local and national politics.  Because quotas were not compulsory and underrepresentation was evident, they asked about strategies to recruit women in public life and decision-making.

Remarking on the increase of men taking advantage of the Paid Parental Leave Act, one expert noted that progress tended to be a bit speedier when there was a legal basis for men to be more involved in raising their children.

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women will meet again at 10 a.m. Wednesday, 21 July, to take up Turkey’s sixth periodic report.

Background

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women met today to consider the combined sixth and seventh periodic reports of Australia (document CEDAW/C/AUL/7).

The delegation was led by Gary Quinlan, Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations, with Helen Hambling, Group Manager, Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs serving as alternative head of the delegation.  Also from the Mission were Sue Robertson and Caitlin Boyce.

Delegates also included:  Alison Morehead, Group Manager, Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations; Cath Halbert, Group Manager, Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs; Sally Moyle, Branch Manager, Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs; Kim Farrant, Principal Legal Officer, Attorney-General’s Department; Dot Harvey, First Secretary, Australian High Commission, Ottawa; and Emily Hall, Policy Officer, Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.

Introduction of Report

Ms. HAMBLING commenced with welcoming remarks from the Minister for the Status of Women, Tanya Plibersek, who heralded the hard work and great advances made by the Australian Government in incorporating the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women into policy and legislation.  In evaluating progress towards women’s empowerment in the international community, Australia rated well.  There were still challenges, in particular, in improving the lives of indigenous women and girls and reducing violence against women.  However, great strides had also been made, she said, noting the introduction of a AU$1 billion strategy to improve the lives of indigenous Australians, the increased funding for women’s advocacy and childcare, the first national paid parental-leave scheme, and the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, among others.

Before continuing, she informed the experts that federal elections would be held on 21 August, and that, facing the possibility of a change of Government, she and her delegation were constrained in providing information on any future Government actions or policy developments.

She then turned to the Federal Government Office for Women, which guided and advised all ministries in the national Government on how to design and implement programmes, policy and legislation to be inclusive of women and how such policies and legislation would impact women’s lives.  The Office for Women also worked closely with state and territory government policy offices.  In addition, there were six Government-funded Women’s Alliances, which coordinated advice from 100 Australian women’s organizations, and the Attorney-General and Foreign Affairs Minister worked closely on human rights with non-governmental organizations.

Improved governance was also evident, as women now comprised 30 per cent of parliamentarians, seven ministerial positions, including the Prime Minister, and held the highest public position, that of the Governor General.  Since 1995, three times as many women held the ranks of Senior Executive Servant in public service.  Three out of seven High Court justices were also women.

Addressing the issue of violence against women, she noted that that persisted at “unacceptable levels” with one in three Australian women suffering physical violence in their lifetime and almost one in five experiencing sexual violence.  To combat that, the Federal Government was completing its “National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children”.  The 11-member National Council had presented its report, and 18 of the 20 recommendations had been immediately approved, among them, a new telephone and online crisis service and a social marketing campaign addressing attitudes and behaviours that contributed to the violence.

She then turned to the efforts and progress being made towards improving the lives of indigenous Australians and Torres Strait Islander women.  One such result had been the recently launched National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples, which was gender balanced in positions of leadership and decision-making bodies.  Also recently funded was the Indigenous Women’s Program, which supported and responded to the specific needs of indigenous women.  Another milestone had been the election of the first Australian indigenous woman to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, in April this year.

Turning to the labour market, she acknowledged that women in Australia still earned 18 per cent less than men and were retiring with half the savings of men.  The New Fair Work Act, which had just become fully operational this year, established 10 National Employment Standards, among them, maximum weekly hours of work, various types of leave and the right to request flexible working arrangements.  The Act also aimed at pay equity between women and men.  In the private sector, however, women held one in eight executive management positions, and the number of companies with no women executive managers had increased between the years 2006 and 2008.  To address that, the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency had developed a combination of regulatory and educative measures, and held round tables across the country.

Regarding the National Human Rights Consultation, Ms. Hambling described the overwhelming national response from more than 5,000 participants in 35,000 written submissions on how human rights should be protected and promoted, which included many aspects of gender protection and promotion of women’s rights.  That had served in part as a basis for the Government’s “ Australia’s Human Rights Framework”.  Providing funding over four years, the framework would focus on education for community and public sectors, a National Human Rights Action Plan and the establishment of a Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, to name a few.

As for the passage of the Paid Parental Leave Act 2010, it would commence in January, 2011 and parental leave payments would be available to parents of children born or adopted after that date.  Although women would be the primary claimants of that leave, more Australian men were choosing to be the primary caregiver in their child’s first year.  There were also efforts to improve childcare for working parents, and more than AU$17 billion would be invested in early childhood education, care and the cost of care for Australian families over the next four years.

Ms. Hambling said her country would continue to make efforts and to create strategies to integrate gender equality across all aspects of society, in particular, in the lives of women from disadvantaged backgrounds, and she welcomed the experts’ remarks and enquiries towards those goals.

Experts’ Comments and Questions

DUBRAVKA ŠIMONOVIĆ, expert from Croatia, asked about efforts to make amendments to the sex discrimination act and to develop a human rights act.

NICOLE AMELINE, expert from France, said her concerns revolved around women’s economic security, the distribution of labour, violence and indigenous women.  What mechanisms did the country plan to use to strengthen and coordinate laws against discrimination around the country?  Referring to quotas, would women be visible during the upcoming elections?  Were any specific actions being implemented to sensitize judges of the contributions that the Convention’s Optional Protocol could make?

CORNELIS FLINTERMAN, expert from the Netherlands, asked for more information about the amendment to the sex discrimination act.  With the ratification of the Optional Protocol, had the Government lived up to its obligations and given wide publicity to the Convention?

INDIRA JAISING, expert from India, asked why the Department of Women had been moved from the Prime Minister’s office and the impact of that move.

YOKO HAYASHI, expert from Japan, questioned the Government’s plans for the human rights framework, specifically whether it would envelope all anti-discrimination activities.  Noting that the 2008-2009 budget for the sex discrimination commission was much less than the previous year, she wanted to know how the sex discrimination commission and its unit would function effectively.

VIOLETA NEUBAUER, expert from Slovenia, also sought information about the impact of the shift of the Department of Women from the Prime Minister’s Office, including whether there had been any changes in its financial resources.

Country Response

A delegate said the amendments to the sex discrimination bill were meant to strengthen the act.  Equality was a challenge for the country, and gender equity was meant to bring an equal opportunity focus and improve women’s equity, with the aim of ultimate equality.  The Government relied on the Council of Australian Governments, which helped it to ensure the harmonization of its laws.  Its federal system let states take the lead and all were bound by the Women’s Convention.

Regarding the question on quotas and whether women would be visible during the upcoming elections, she noted that women now enjoyed 30 per cent representation in Parliament.  That would mean that they would be visible throughout the campaign.

She added to another question that the country’s major vehicle to ensure the entrenchment of the Women’s Convention was through the sex discrimination act.  But other laws, such as those regarding employment, health and housing, also ensured that the Convention’s provisions were implemented.  Regarding efforts to strengthen the sex discrimination act, she said it was difficult to discuss what an incoming Government would do.

Concerning the move of the Office of Women to the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs from the Prime Minister’s Office, she said that placed the Office within one of the highest government portfolios, allowing it to coordinate its work for women at the highest level of Government as it introduced programmes and conducted research.  The Women’s Office had access to the highest levels of Government and was able to provide input.  Its budget had not changed since the move; it was indexed to cost-of-living changes.

Another member of the delegation said the Australian Constitution guaranteed equality for all.  Australia had a strong legislative regime.  The Human Rights Commission Act provided for the investigation of complaints and added to the panoply of protections available to Australian women.  Amendments to the sex discrimination act were meant to ensure protection for women, such as for women with family responsibilities.

As for development of a human rights act, she said there was no debate in Australia that human rights were very important, but the Government wanted to ensure that the approach to protecting them did not create uncertainty or suspicion or divide the community.  The human rights framework it had announced would promote people’s understanding and ensure that laws were consistent with international human rights obligations.

Regarding funding for the Human Rights Commission, the delegate stated that due to the global economic crisis, all Australian Government commissions were facing funding issues.  The Government had just funded the Human Rights Commission AU$6.6 million to expand its programmes and roles.  The Commission recently had revised its staff structure and approach to create more efficient funding use.

Responding to a question on the coordination mechanism, she said that the Standing Committee of Attorney Generals was looking to harmonize the anti-discrimination strategies of the Commonwealth States and Territory.  An anti-discriminatory information gateway website was available to anyone seeking information on any state or territorial jurisdiction.  Anyone could access the site, which was designed as a “one-stop shop”.

Turning to enquiries about the Optional Protocol and case law, and its consideration by Australian courts, she pointed out that consideration was recent and that it was up to the Courts to take the Protocol into account.  The Women’s Convention had been invoked in court in a large number of cases.

Conferences and educational programmes on gender awareness and education for judges and magistrates had been in existence since 1995, she said.  Judicial training to increase awareness on the impact of legislation on women, as well as the intersection of law and gender issues, was available for all members of the judicial sector and funded through the Government.  The National Judicial College of Australia, established in 2002, also incorporated gender issues into its curriculum and programmes.

Experts’ Comments and Questions

VICTORIA POPESCU, expert from Romania, asked what special temporary measures were being taken to address the specific challenges of vulnerable women, including those with disabilities; indigenous; economically disadvantaged; lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons; and those women facing multifaceted discrimination.  Indigenous women were clearly underrepresented in various areas, and she asked what recruitment efforts were being made and if quotas were being considered.

PRAMILA PATTEN, expert from Mauritius, noted that the report was clear on women’s lack of advancement in the labour market — in certain areas, among them, the number of women in senior positions in the private sector.  Had the current Government reconsidered its position on using special temporary measures?  Regarding the National Congress of Australia’s First People, would the Government be establishing benchmarks for advancing the rights of indigenous people and what was its stand on quotas?

VIOLET TSISIGA AWORI, expert from Kenya, asked if the AU$42 million was adequate for implementing the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children.  Also, was there a monitoring mechanism?  And, were specific strategies in the National Plan culturally specific to indigenous women?

She also requested information on violence against women with disabilities, especially those living in institutions and in supported living situations, specifically about the protection of such women.

Turning to the Convention’s article 5, on sex stereotyping and prejudice, Ms. AMELINE, expert from France, enquired about women’s image in Australia, noting that a media working group was developing a “code of conduct”.  She asked what form that would take and how it would be designed, observing that it would be difficult to make such a code binding.  Also, was that approach a run-up to adoption of legislation or just strong guidance?  She also commented on the survey that showed that violent behaviour was still tolerated by a high portion of the population and was considered a part of the Australian culture.  What measures were being taking to reverse that trend?

Turning to the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, she asked if the plan was fully operational, and whether there were shelters available across Australia, and if those were free.

Ms. ŠIMONOVIĆ, expert from Croatia, asked if there was federal legislation against violence against women or whether that was handled by state and territory.  Regarding the data indicating that 48 per cent of homicide victims were women, did it show who was killing those women?

Ms. NEUBAUER, expert from Slovenia, observing that brothels were not illegal, enquired about the lack of strategies or programmes to discourage women from entering the sex industry.  Were there any exit programmes for prostitutes?  She also pointed out that the “question addressing the man side was not answered”.  Since the regulatory approach seemed to be the major trend in Australia, what was the relationship between the sex worker and the brothel owner?  Was the owner self-employed or did she or he benefit from employment benefits?  How were sex workers’ health and safety being ensured beyond the mandatory tests, which she noted were discriminatory, since customers were not forced to be tested as well?

SAISUREE CHUTIKUL, expert from Thailand, commended Australia for its positive work to fight human trafficking, including the creation of a more flexible visa framework, increased funding and support for the work of non-governmental organizations.  She wanted more information about the Government’s national action plan to reduce trafficking in women, and more details about its efforts to reduce the trafficking in women from Asia.

Country Response

A member of the delegation said the sex discrimination act did allow the use of special temporary measures by the private, public and community sectors.  To help increase leadership positions in the private sector, the Government was looking at the Australian Stock Exchange guidelines to see if they could offer guidance on ways to increase women’s participation.

The delegate said that the Government was making progress on the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and Their Children.  The National Plan had not been finalized, but good progress was being made.  Meanwhile, the Government was taking steps to counter violence against women.  She referred to the free telephone hotline that provided service for men and women in all states and territories.  To improve relations between men and women, the Government had set up 17 Respectful Relationship programmes in schools to help sensitize young people.

On the issue of sex workers, the Government did not legislate prostitution; the states and territories did.  The state and territory governments worked to empower sex workers and to ensure their human rights, legal rights and access to health care were protected, the delegate said.  Regarding the national trafficking strategy, there were now efforts under way to strengthen the coordination of various agencies to fight human trafficking.  The anti-trafficking programme had been in place in its new enhanced form since July 2009.

To boost the involvement of indigenous women in political life, the Government had initiated the indigenous women’s programme.  It was a grant programme that provided funding for activities that would help reduce those women’s disadvantages and encourage their assumption of legislative and management roles.

Turning to questions on legal issues for indigenous women, another member of the delegation said the Government created various programmes to give indigenous women access to justice.  It also had programmes in place, in Victoria for example, that addressed sexual assault in mental health institutions.

Another delegate said the federal and state governments had taken various legislative and non-legislative measures to counter domestic violence.  A new Family Protection Act in Victoria in 2008, for example, had broadened the definition of violence to include emotional violence or the domination of a family member that impacted the well-being of other family members.

In 2003, the Government had adopted an anti-trafficking strategy that enveloped recruitment to reintegration.  It had not included a strategy to discourage prostitution.  Sex work was not unlawful in Australia, but strictly legislated to ensure the workers’ rights, including legal, health and financial.

The Government placed strong emphasis on showing men and women, girls and boys, the rights they had in regard to sex, the delegate said, adding that the Government had provided AU$9 million in funding over five years for its Respectful Relationship Programme, to help young people develop the skills needed for respectful relationships.

The National Strategy for Young Australians, said another delegate included a focus on body image, particularly for young women, as body image was a concern for young people between the ages of 11 and 24.  So, the Government was working to help young people develop a positive body image.  There was also a voluntary industry code of conduct in that regard.

Experts’ Comments and Questions

FERDOUS ARA BEGUM, expert from Bangladesh, asked about the gender equality in Australia’s election policy.  She also noted that the Federal Government had funded a series of community consultations and an online survey on the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, 15 years after its adoption, and she asked whether there would be a similar such review of and consultations on the 30-year commemoration of the Women’s Convention.

Ms. PATTEN, expert from Mauritius, turned to the issue of temporary special measures, and asked what the difficulty was in adopting such measures for vulnerable women, in particular, for indigenous women.

Mr. FLINTERMAN, expert from the Netherlands, said he had reviewed the website recommended by the delegation for more information about when the Convention had been invoked in court cases, but he could not find clear information on such instances.

Ms. ŠIMONOVIĆ, expert from Croatia, noting that a lack of federal legislation to combat violence against women had rendered such legislation at the level of each commonwealth state and territory, asked how minimal standards were being ensured, and who was monitoring the national plan.

Country Response

A delegate clarified that the current Government’s “caretaker” position was a “convention” of behaviour in the lead-up to the August election.  That arrangement did not constitute any change of governing, but merely was a code of behaviour to ensure that the current Government would not make any decisions that might limit any incoming new Government.

She then turned to her colleague to address gender equalities in election policy.  The delegate noted that it was up to each party to develop its own equality policy.  The country would commemorate the Women Convention’s thirtieth anniversary in conjunction with the 100^th anniversary of Women’s Day.

Turning to data on cases of violence against women, in 2008 and 2009 in the High Court, there had been more than 17,000 cases, including more that 3,000 that were charges of sexual assault.  In those cases, 90 per cent of the defendants had been men.  More then 60 per cent had been found guilty.

She stated that, though the Australian Government did support temporary special measures, it did not support compulsory quotas in that category.

The National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children had still not been delivered and thus was not in place.  Therefore, there was no monitoring of that plan.

Experts’ Comments and Questions

Ms. POPESCU, expert from Romania, noting Australian women’s high participation in the country’s public life, asked about the number of women diplomats.  She also wanted to know the number of senior positions that women held in peacekeeping missions and how the Government ensured their training.

XIAOQIAO ZOU, expert from China, concerning women’s participation in public decision-making, asked what role the Federal Government Office for Women played in promoting gender equality at the state level.  Since Australia did not support the use of compulsory quotas, then how could it ensure that vulnerable women participated in public life and decision-making? she asked.

MERIEM BELMIHOUB-ZERDANI, expert from Algeria, said it was important that the Federal Government worked to ensure results at the state level.  Did it provide subsidies to political parties and had those parties taken steps to ensure women’s participation?  Would it be a good idea to cut off those subsidies to parties that did not encourage women’s participation?  What was the representation of indigenous women in political life?  She wanted to know what percentage of women led universities and what portion of those women were indigenous.  She also wanted figures for women’s participation in the judiciary.

Country Response

Turning to the gender architecture of the Australian aid agency, a member of the delegation said that the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) had commended the work of the Australian aid agency, which strove to integrate gender equality throughout its programmes.  The Government also aimed to ensure that women fully participated at all levels of peacekeeping missions and that their rights were protected.

The Office for Women worked with State and Territory Offices for Women, which each had their own work programmes.  There was a Coordination Ministerial Council that met annually and worked to reduce violence against women and ensure women’s equal numbers in leadership positions.  Regarding the question on special measures for political parties, she said the parties were funded by political campaigns and that they established their own priorities on gender.

She noted that the Australian Red Cross also provided support for victims of trafficking through a contract with the Federal Government.

Another delegate said that 53 per cent of the women in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade were women.  The Department had a cadet programme, which helped to develop the careers of young women.  She did not have figures on the participation of indigenous women.  About 10,000 women enlisted in the Australian defence forces as full-time or part-time members.  Turning to the judiciary, she said three out of seven high court judges were women and three out of 14 judges in the family courts were women.  There were no quotas for vulnerable women.

Regarding women’s participation in universities, about 20 per cent of vice-chancellor slots in the 39 universities were women.  They assumed that position when they were about age 50.  The Government had an action programme to encourage women’s participation in teaching and in leadership positions at universities.

Experts’ Comments and Questions

SILVIA PIMENTEL, expert from Brazil, noting that more women than men were in higher education in the country, but in traditional “female” fields, asked what strategies were being implemented to address that pattern.  She noted the efforts to close the educational gap between indigenous and non-indigenous students, but worried that those efforts might cause the indigenous culture to disappear.  She asked for more details about those initiatives and whether the process of developing and implementing them respected the indigenous culture.

BARBARA EVELYN BAILEY, expert from Jamaica, wanted more concise gender data about the economic status and ethnicity of students.  What was the impact of those factors’ on girls, and within those categories, what was girls’ completion rates?  She also noted that fewer women entered post-graduate work as compared to undergraduate study.  What was the main factor for that decline and how was it being addressed?  Also, how was the issue of the gender patterns on the choices of academic study being addressed?

NIKLAS BRUUN, expert from Finland, reminded the delegation that regardless of what government was elected in August, Australia had an obligation to fulfil the obligations under the Women’s Convention.  Turning to the New Fair Act, he asked how it would address Australia’s persistent pay gap between men and women.  Would the Act bring about improvements or were further actions needed?

As for more men becoming primary caretakers of their children, he noted that that development would be speedier if there was a legal basis for it and asked if there were any legislative plans to make fathers take responsibility for their children.

SOLEDAD MURILLO DE LA VEGA, expert from Spain, asked why the Government had not moved ahead with plans to create 260 childcare centres in the country.  She noted that women with disabilities had fewer opportunities for employment.  Government information showed that pensions for people with disabilities varied and that about 280,000 women had a disability benefit while more than 400,000 men had a disability benefit.  She asked what programmes, vocational and other, were in place to help women with disabilities.  Why had sexual harassment not been classified as a crime?  Also, were there specific employment programmes for minority women?

Ms. HAYASHI, expert from Japan, asked whether same-sex couples could take advantage of the parental leave act.

MAGALYS AROCHA DOMINGUEZ, expert from Cuba, welcomed the country’s progress in implementing the Women’s Convention since its last review.  But she said there were still obstacles to women’s access to higher standards of health.  She asked what measures were being taken to ensure the health of indigenous women.  Also, how was abortion handled in the various provinces?

Ms. PIMENTAL, expert from Brazil, wanted to know about the impact of the criminalization of genital mutilation.  Did education on sexual and reproductive life include information for lesbians and transgender women?  Were there programmes to help elderly women and women with disabilities?

ZOHRA RASEKH, expert from Afghanistan, commended the country’s development of a national health strategy, but sought more information about the strategy, such as whether non-governmental organizations were involved and how the strategy was different from that of the aboriginal health strategy.

Mr. FLINTERMAN, expert from the Netherlands, asked why women spent 32 fewer minutes than men in rest and leisure activities each day.  Although that might not seem much in a day, over a year and lifetime, it added up, and he wanted to know if there was an explanation.  He also commented on the compulsory income management programmes, which were applied to vulnerable women and the “deep inroad to the privacy of the person” such mandatory programmes might make.  Had there been any legal action in regard to that programme?  Housing discrimination against women, including women with disabilities and indigenous women, had been reported by non-governmental organizations, he said, asking what policies were being adopted to address that.

Ms. PATTEN, expert from Mauritius, followed up on the housing inquires, asking if there had been any review of the tenancy laws to prevent women from being evicted.

Ms. BEGUM, expert from Bangladesh, inquired about the age pension and if it included women in rural areas.  Significant parts of Australia were suffering from drought, which impacted indigenous communities and indigenous women in particular.  A review report had been done in that regard, about which she requested more information.

Ms. ZOU, expert from China, asked about medical care and access for women in rural areas.  Notably, a high proportion of women in rural areas had difficulty accessing medical care; the clinic was too far away or there were no doctors.  Were the federal and local governments taking measures to address that?

Ms. RASEKH, expert from Afghanistan, asked how the Government was working to eliminate discrimination against immigrant women and girls.  What role did the mass media play in changing attitudes?

Country Response

A delegate acknowledged that women were not promoted as quickly as men in the workplace.  The Fair Work Act would go a long way to address discrimination in the workplace and the issue of equal remuneration.  The Act prevented unfair dismissal due to pregnancy.  It also provided for an ombudsman.  The Act applied to businesses of all size.

The Government was working to improve the collection of data by the Bureau of Statistics, she said.  Regarding a question on the Government funds allocated to promote gender equality, she said the Government’s aim was to ensure that all expenditures were gender-sensitive and promoted equality.  There was no specific amount earmarked for gender equality, but a women’s budget statement summarized the key achievements.  Regarding the level of unpaid work in Australia, she said that women were responsible for most of the unpaid work.  Women had about a half hour of leisure time each day.

Regarding the question about why sexual harassment was not classified as a crime, she said there were many acts of sexual harassment that were classified as crimes.  There was also a civil remedy for that behaviour.  Concerning parental leave for same-sex parents, any parent with primary-care responsibilities for a child had access to paid parental leave.

Australia supported efforts to eliminate genital mutilation, which was a federal offence, as was removing a child from the state or territory in which they lived in order to perform genital mutilation, she said.

To another question, she said that the Sex Discrimination Act made it unlawful to discriminate in the area of housing on the basis of sex.

All women had access to an old-age pension upon reaching retirement age, even if they had not worked in the regular workforce, she said.  The women’s rural summit in 2008 had brought rural women together.  The summit’s recommendations had been given to the Government, whose responses were available on its website.

Turning to microcredit for women in rural areas, she said there were microcredit programmes that applied to many women.  Banks supplied small loans, which were to be provided in a non-discriminatory manner.  Women made up more than 30 per cent of the business owners and managers.

A delegate responded to questions regarding education, stating that the Government would be investing over seven years more than AU$5 billion to create the “ Smarter School” partnerships.  That reform would address six areas in 1,700 of the lowest-status schools, beginning with employment and hiring incentives for teachers, principals and staff.  Noting that teacher quality was the “greatest in-school variable we can work on”, she said there would be AU$550 million to fund a life-cycle approach to attract teachers.

She said another emphasis would be on tailoring education programmes to the needs of the students, as well as on engaging communities through dialogue and other activities.  The reforms would also promote external partnerships with local businesses and organizations, among others.

In terms of early childhood education, a new teacher workforce was being developed, which would see the removal of fees childcare workers formerly had to pay to be eligible to work.  The removal of those fees would likely result in approximately 8,000 additional workers.  Another initiative was to reduce the educational debt incurred for those teachers willing to teach in indigenous, rural and remote communities.

Turning to the enquiries about women in higher education, she said that, although women did quite well there, more strategies were needed to translate that success into more women at the post-graduate level, which was showing decline.  The best way to address that was to recruit more women into universities and target students from communities where women were less likely to go into higher education.  Higher education institutions were now being funded to attract those students, with a goal of increasing the student body by 20 per cent from that population.

Regarding the concerns about the disappearance of indigenous culture in the expanded educational system, the Government had provided AU$66.4 million over six years to teach indigenous languages in schools, including community-based schools.  The Government was committed to keep indigenous languages and culture alive.  The indigenous language programmes in the years 2006-2007 had involved more than 16,000 indigenous and non-indigenous students, who studied 80 indigenous languages.

Regarding vocational training and apprenticeship programmes, there were significant inroads and “massive funding” to increase apprentices, and although that was not targeted specifically to women, there would be many more women coming out of the trades because of that initiative, which would create “new and alternative pathways for women” in the labour force.

On the issue of childcare, another delegate said that the country spent billions of dollars on childcare support for women.  The childcare rebate to parents had been increased since July 2008.  There also was financial support for childcare to help parents in rural and remote areas.

The delegate noted that there were several programmes for migrant women, such as language programmes and comprehensive assessments made of the women’s needs for financial assistance.  On indigenous issues, the Government had many targets to close the gaps in education.  It also encouraged employers to hire more indigenous workers, including women.  And, it was endeavouring to increase the employment capacity of unemployed people and low-skilled workers.

On the issue of health, another delegate said the Government had launched the draft of a primary health-care strategy, which took into account the reproductive and sexual health of indigenous women.

Experts’ Questions and Comments

Ms. PATTEN, expert from Mauritius, asked what steps the Government had provided for increased funding for legal assistance.  Also, what measures were being taken to protect women who were experiencing domestic violence?

Ms. AWORI, expert from Kenya, asked about the Government’s efforts to provide family law services and to protect the rights of vulnerable women, such as women with disabilities.

Country Response

A member of the delegation said the Access to Justice Report of 2009 had created an Access to Justice Task Force.  The Government provided funding for translation for indigenous women in need of legal assistance.

Another delegate said the Government was working to strengthen the child-protection system.  The Government believed that parents with disabilities made good parents, and it was working to help them raise their families.

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*     The 932^nd, 933^rd & 934^th Meetings were closed.

For information media • not an official record