On 18 December 2025, the Australian Law Reform Commission held a roundtable consultation with seven women's organisations who support the abolition of surrogacy in all its forms. What occurred was not merely a disagreement about policy content. It was a demonstration that fundamental questions about the review's legitimacy remain unaddressed — and that the ALRC … Continue reading Abolition of surrogacy is within the ALRC’s power: Responding to the terms of reference claim
Tag: human rights
Beyond consultation: CEDAW means more than just ‘asking a few women’
Across Australia, governments are enacting legislation that strips away women's sex-based protections and rights whilst systematically excluding us from the rooms where decisions are made. But the problem runs deeper than flawed consultation processes: even when governments do consult us, consultation alone does not satisfy Australia's obligations under CEDAW (the UN Convention on the Elimination … Continue reading Beyond consultation: CEDAW means more than just ‘asking a few women’
Who counts as a stakeholder? How government decides whose voices matter on women’s rights
When Australian governments develop policies that fundamentally affect women's sex-based protections and rights, FOI evidence and analysis of processes reveals that LGBTQIA+ organisations are invited, resourced, and embedded in advisory structures, and considered at the development stage; women's groups focused on sex-based protections and rights, on the other hand, must monitor parliamentary websites, track down … Continue reading Who counts as a stakeholder? How government decides whose voices matter on women’s rights
Protecting women in custody: Why all must follow the NT’s lead on sex-based prison laws
The Northern Territory Women's Action Alliance (NTWAA) has written to Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro to thank her for confirming that males shall not be housed in NT female-only prisons and that placement shall occur by sex at birth. Her clear statement that there should be "no men in women's jails" and that this … Continue reading Protecting women in custody: Why all must follow the NT’s lead on sex-based prison laws
No reform without women: Still time for WA parliament to reject process on surrogacy Bill
Western Australia’s Assisted Reproductive Technology and Surrogacy Bill 2025 (the Bill) passed through the Legislative Assembly on 16 September and is now before the Legislative Council. What might be framed as progressive healthcare reform is actually a case study in industry capture of legislative process, where those who profit from surrogacy are trying to write … Continue reading No reform without women: Still time for WA parliament to reject process on surrogacy Bill
Democracy in denial: How excluding women’s groups from consultation produces bad law
Across Australia, governments are enacting legislation that profoundly affects women's rights whilst systematically excluding us from meaningful participation in consultation. This not only violates Australia's international obligations but produces legislation that serves commercial and other interests rather than protects women and girls. Recent examples from New South Wales and Western Australia — as well as Queensland — show how exclusion from democratic processes doesn't just breach process requirements: … Continue reading Democracy in denial: How excluding women’s groups from consultation produces bad law
Accountability, not re-interpretation: Why we questioned the Sex Discrimination Commissioner
At the National Press Club on Wednesday, The Women’s Advocate put a direct question to the Sex Discrimination Commissioner about her powers and obligations under the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 and why women advocating for women’s sex-based protections and rights have not been properly consulted on the development of key sex and gender … Continue reading Accountability, not re-interpretation: Why we questioned the Sex Discrimination Commissioner
Feminist coalition exposes gaps, calls for urgent amendments in Australia’s report on human rights to the UN
AAWAA has been part of a united coalition of independent feminist organisations from across Australia to strongly criticise the Australian Government’s draft national report to the UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR), exposing serious gaps between government rhetoric and the lived experiences of women and girls. This coalition represents a significant alliance of long-standing, evidence-based advocates … Continue reading Feminist coalition exposes gaps, calls for urgent amendments in Australia’s report on human rights to the UN
The Australian Government Guidelines on Sex and Gender: Administrative practices are not an easy way out of legal uncertainty
The NSW Law Reform Commission's consultation paper on the Anti-discrimination Act review has raised concerns that it might look to the Australian Government Guidelines on the Recognition of Sex and Gender to shape legal concepts of sex and gender in NSW. These administrative guidelines, however, do not provide a solution to the ongoing legal uncertainty surrounding … Continue reading The Australian Government Guidelines on Sex and Gender: Administrative practices are not an easy way out of legal uncertainty
Striking the right balance: Reforming hate speech law for women’s safety and democratic freedoms in NSW
As the New South Wales Government considers reforms to criminal law protections against incitement of hatred, the stakes for women, freedom of expression and genuine social cohesion have rarely been higher. The NSW Women’s Action Alliance (NSWWAA) argues that any changes must carefully protect against serious harm, while not undermining the open debate and sex-based … Continue reading Striking the right balance: Reforming hate speech law for women’s safety and democratic freedoms in NSW
Australia’s slide backwards on women’s rights: what we told the CSW at the UN
Every year, advocates for women and girls from across the world make their case in communications before the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)—the highest global forum on gender equality. The CSW exists to monitor countries’ performance under treaties like the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women … Continue reading Australia’s slide backwards on women’s rights: what we told the CSW at the UN
Australian feminists unite for UN shadow report: Why women’s voices matter in international human rights
Our coalition of independent feminist organisations has submitted its shadow report to the United Nations Human Rights Council as part of Australia’s fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR). In doing so, we join other civil society groups in making plain the growing threat to women’s rights and sex-based protections in Australia: a reality that is too … Continue reading Australian feminists unite for UN shadow report: Why women’s voices matter in international human rights
Surrogacy is state-sanctioned violence against women and girls: Why prohibition is the only answer
AAWAA has responded to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls (SRVAWG)’s call for input for her upcoming report to the General Assembly’s 80th session, specifically addressing the theme of surrogacy and its relationship to violence against women and girls. AAWAA’s submission makes our position unequivocal: All forms of surrogacy constitute … Continue reading Surrogacy is state-sanctioned violence against women and girls: Why prohibition is the only answer
NSW Equality bill being rammed through despite lack of democratic process and far-reaching changes to 20 Acts of Parliament
NSWWAA has written to NSW Premier Chris Minns as a matter of urgency to raise concerns about the proposed Equality Legislation Amendment (LGBTIQA+) Bill 2023 that we understand will be debated in NSW Parliament this week. NSWWAA is particularly troubled by the lack of democratic process that has occurred to date regarding the bill’s proposed sweeping and significant changes across twenty … Continue reading NSW Equality bill being rammed through despite lack of democratic process and far-reaching changes to 20 Acts of Parliament
Specific mental health needs of women and girls must be addressed in next OHCHR comprehensive report
AAWAA has provided input into the UN OHCHR’s forthcoming report on mental health and human rights. We acknowledge and appreciate the recognition – reflected in past OHCHR reports and the WHO/OHCHR guide – that human rights violations, including forms of violence and discrimination, are significant contributors to adverse mental health outcomes. The link between systemic … Continue reading Specific mental health needs of women and girls must be addressed in next OHCHR comprehensive report
Protecting the human rights of trans and gender diverse-identifying people: medical interventions including puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones
In early May, AAWAA made a submission to the Australian Human Rights Council's national project mapping threats to trans and gender diverse (TGD) human rights in Australia. We welcome the AHRC’s interest in the human rights of people who identify as TGD, and note the AHRC’s mandate to investigate actions or practices that could be … Continue reading Protecting the human rights of trans and gender diverse-identifying people: medical interventions including puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones
Content and lack of public consultation in NSW Equality Bill poses serious questions about democratic process
Following public concern, the NSW Legislative Assembly recently referred the flawed Equality Legislation Amendment (LGBTIQA+) Bill 2023 to its Committee on Community Services to conduct an inquiry to examine "operational issues." The Committee is due to report by 3 June 2024. If passed, the bill will amend 20 different laws all at once in New … Continue reading Content and lack of public consultation in NSW Equality Bill poses serious questions about democratic process
A potential SA human rights act must protect women and girls on the basis of our sex
The South Australian Women's Action Alliance, SAWAA, recently joined a coalition of Australian women’s and LGB groups in making a submission to the South Australian Parliament on that state's inquiry into a potential human rights act. Our submission is submission no. 302. The coalition consists of SAWAA, Australian Feminists for Women’s Rights (AF4WR), Coalition of … Continue reading A potential SA human rights act must protect women and girls on the basis of our sex
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
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
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
