The Australian Senate's Standing Committee on Community Affairs has accepted AAWAA's submission into the senate's inquiry into issues related to menopause and perimenopause. We know that symptoms of menopause and the menopause transition can impact significantly a woman’s personal life as well her work, but sadly, this knowledge is not translating into a broader change in … Continue reading Better understanding of menopause impacts and treatments is essential for women’s healthy ageing
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Sex self-ID and the erosion of women’s rights: an Australian coalition’s letter to CEDAW
In February 2024, a coalition of Australian women’s and LGB groups, led by AAWAA, wrote to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) to raise urgent concerns about the impact of sex self-identification, or “sex self-ID”, on women’s rights and sex-based protections in Australia. Our coalition comprises teachers, lawyers, nurses, doctors, scientists, … Continue reading Sex self-ID and the erosion of women’s rights: an Australian coalition’s letter to CEDAW
Justice Miscellaneous (Conversion Practices) Bill 2024, TAS, WAAT, 16 Feb 2024
WAAT, Conversion practices bill, 2024, submission, 16 Feb 2024Download
How using International Women’s Day to celebrate ‘gender identities’ hides structural and systemic sexism
8 March marks International Women’s Day (IWD); however, the now-common practise of de-centering women on this day (and in general as regards women’s issues) under the guises of ‘intersectionality’ and ‘gender inclusivity’ actively harms our collective anti-sexism journey and obscures the structural and systemic sexism women continue to face. This fact sheet explains how. Feel … Continue reading How using International Women’s Day to celebrate ‘gender identities’ hides structural and systemic sexism
New SOGI expert must listen to lesbians
AAWAA has made a submission to Dr Graeme Reid, the UN's Independent Expert on Protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI). Dr Reid recently put out a call for input into the protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, in relation to the human … Continue reading New SOGI expert must listen to lesbians
Tasmanian teachers urged to ask the questions
For most Australian families, school will recommence next week, and WAAT has been hearing from teachers who are worried. They’re worried that this year will bring more students who want to be called by a different name, who expect to participate in opposite-sex sports, and who are openly telling others that they’re going to start … Continue reading Tasmanian teachers urged to ask the questions
WHO’s guidelines need guidance
In light of the WHO's recent proposed development of a guideline on the health of trans and gender-diverse people and our concerns that the proposed health guideline will endorse the medicalisation of gender non-conformity, we have written as part of a coalition to the WHO's Guidelines Review Committee. Our concerns extend beyond the issue of … Continue reading WHO’s guidelines need guidance
WHO set to rubber-stamp controversial new gender health guideline
AAWAA has joined a coalition of Australian women’s and LGB groups to co-sign a letter addressed to the WHO's Guideline Development Group (GDG) in relation to the 18 December 2023 announcement of the proposed development of a guideline on the health of trans and gender-diverse people. Our coalition respects the WHO’s global mandate to promote healthier lives, and your ongoing … Continue reading WHO set to rubber-stamp controversial new gender health guideline
Not too late for AHRC to uphold lesbians’ civil and political rights to opinion and assembly
The Affiliation of Australian Women’s Action Alliances (AAWAA) is surprised and disappointed at the Australian Human Rights Commission’s preliminary view not to grant a temporary exemption to the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (SDA) that would allow lesbians to meet on the basis of their sex and their sexual orientation. We are particularly puzzled as the … Continue reading Not too late for AHRC to uphold lesbians’ civil and political rights to opinion and assembly
Australia’s new international gender strategy needs to address the unique needs of women and girls
AAWAA welcomes DFAT’s decision to develop a new international gender inequality strategy and trusts that this signals ambition in the direction of policy development to emancipate women and girls. Development of such policies is not only a matter of moral imperative but also a strategic investment that promises substantial returns in the form of enhanced … Continue reading Australia’s new international gender strategy needs to address the unique needs of women and girls
AHRC urged to allow lesbians freedom of assembly without men
AAWAA has supported an application by the Lesbian Action Group (LAG) to the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) for an exemption under the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 to conduct ‘Lesbians Born Female’-only events, including to celebrate International Lesbian Day. We believe that an exemption is necessary to ensure the safety and security of this group … Continue reading AHRC urged to allow lesbians freedom of assembly without men
State and territory women’s alliances back lesbian-only gatherings
Two powerful letters sent to the Australian Human Rights Commission in August 2023 demonstrate clear, grassroots support for the Lesbian Action Group’s right to female-only events. Both the Queensland Women’s Action Alliance (QWAA) and the Western Australian Women’s Action Alliance (WAWAA) wrote in strong, principled defence of lesbian women’s right to assemble as a group, … Continue reading State and territory women’s alliances back lesbian-only gatherings
Concerns registered that Dept of Health is compromised by participation in advocacy group’s ‘equality index’
WAAC has joined a coalition of women's and LGB groups to register our concerns that the Department of Health and Aged Care (DOHAC) has compromised its capacity to administer certain grants and provide impartial advice to the government on specific issues as a result of its participation in the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI). The AWEI … Continue reading Concerns registered that Dept of Health is compromised by participation in advocacy group’s ‘equality index’
The ACMA bill must avoid censorship that threatens democracy and worsens online harms
AAWAA has welcomed the opportunity to comment on an exposure draft bill aimed at providing the ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority) with new powers to combat misinformation and disinformation. Whilst a well-judged act could do much to address the problem of online harm, a poorly constructed act will only exacerbate current problems and undermine … Continue reading The ACMA bill must avoid censorship that threatens democracy and worsens online harms
Critical gaps in Australia’s human rights for women and girls must be remedied
The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights (PJHCR) has accepted AAWAA's submission to the Inquiry into Australia's Human Rights Framework. The Women's Action Alliance Canberra (WAAC) is a member of the Affiliation of Australian Women’s Action Alliances (AAWAA) brings together women’s liberation groups from the ACT, Tasmania, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia, all of whom contributed to … Continue reading Critical gaps in Australia’s human rights for women and girls must be remedied
Senator Wong invited to represent concerns about sexual orientation, women, and children to the UN
The Affiliation of Australian Women's Action Alliances (AAWAA) has written to Senator Penny Wong in relation to several matters that are pertinent to Australia’s relationship with and obligations to the United Nations and that have caused us concern. We have asked Senator Wong to consider these concerns and to work to address them at the UN level. … Continue reading Senator Wong invited to represent concerns about sexual orientation, women, and children to the UN
ABS asked to include only sex qua sex in the sex topic in the next census
Three Australian women's liberation groups came together at the end of April this year to make a joint submission to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), arguing that a question only on sex qua sex recorded or observed at birth should be asked in the sex topic in the 2026 Australian Census. As sister organisations WAAC (Canberra), WAAT (Tasmania), and QWAA (Queensland), formed … Continue reading ABS asked to include only sex qua sex in the sex topic in the next census
Why Queensland’s Births, Deaths and Marriages Bill risks women’s protections and rights: A perspective from Canberra
A new bill before the Queensland Parliament proposes significant changes to birth, death and marriae registration—but it could come at the cost of women’s rights, child safeguarding, and freedom of association. The Women’s Action Alliance Canberra (WAAC), recently made a submission outlining our deep concerns about the bill’s impact. What’s at stake? The bill would … Continue reading Why Queensland’s Births, Deaths and Marriages Bill risks women’s protections and rights: A perspective from Canberra
