The Office for Women invites public input to a Comprehensive National Review Report of the progress made and challenges encountered in Australia’s implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BDPFA)—the outcome from the Fourth World Conference on Women 1995, committing participating countries to ‘action for equality, development and peace for all women everywhere in the interest of all humanity’.

In March 2020, the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) of the United Nations (UN) will undertake a review and appraisal of progress made in the implementation of the BDPFA. Accordingly, the UN has called upon all countries to undertake comprehensive national reviews of the progress made and challenges encountered in its implementation.

The Office for Women seeks input into Australia’s comprehensive review report, which will be lodged with UN Women by 1 May 2019 and will form the basis of Australia’s representations at CSW64 in March 2020.

The UN Women questionnaire provides guidance on the input required. Written submissions of no more than three pages, in response to some or all of the questionnaire, should be sent to womensbranchinternational@pmc.gov.au by COB Thursday 14 February 2019.

The Office for Women is also requesting input from all Commonwealth departments, States and Territory governments, as well as civil society.

Content of submissions

Submissions will be used to take stock of achievements, identify gaps and setbacks, and outline strategies for addressing those gaps and challenges.

Input should be succinct, factual and informative and clearly identify the question they are intended to answer.

Submissions should cover the period 2014 – 2019, noting that 2019 will not be complete.

The Office for Women will make every effort to ensure that all views are represented in the final report, but cannot guarantee that all information provided can be incorporated. Accordingly, we stress the importance of keeping submissions within the page limit.

Any questions can be directed to the Office for Women at womensbranchinternational@pmc.gov.au