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
Tag: United Nations
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
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
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
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
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
