The Australian Government is committed to supporting the global Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda to ensure empowering outcomes for women and girls in conflict and post-conflict settings, and considered a global leader in this space.
The Australian National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2012–2018 was a whole of government policy, coordinated by the Office for Women, to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325) and related resolutions under the WPS agenda.
UNSCR 1325 recognises that the experiences, needs and priorities of women and girls differ from those of men and boys in conflict and post-conflict situations, particularly in relation to human rights violations, such as sexual and gender-based violence. UNSCR 1325 also addresses the under-representation of women in conflict prevention, management and resolution.
Australia’s first National Action Plan set out Australia’s actions in the domestic and international arenas to integrate gender into peace and security efforts; protect women’s and girls’ human rights; and promote their participation in conflict prevention, management and resolution.
Under the first WPS National Action Plan, the Government released the following reports.
- The 2014 Progress Report of the Australian National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2012–2018 which was tabled in parliament on 15 July 2014. This was the first progress report and covered the period from March 2012 to December 2013.
- The 2016 Progress Report on the Australian National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2012–2018 which was launched and tabled in parliament on 28 April 2017. This was the second progress report and covered the period 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2015.
- The 2018 Progress Report on the Australian National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2012-2018 which was tabled in parliament 31 July 2018. This was the third progress report and covered the period 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2017.
The government also commissioned two independent reviews of the 2012-2018 WPS National Action Plan. The 2015 Independent Interim Review of the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2012–2018 was released on 8 April 2016. The findings and recommendations from the interim review provided guidance for the implementation of the remainder of the National Action Plan and for the development of the second National Action Plan. The Final Independent Review of the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2012-2018 was released on 12 December 2018. The findings and recommendations of the independent final review provided guidance on the design of Australia’s second National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.
The Australian National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2021-2031 (Australia’s second NAP) was released by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, on 12 April 2021. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is the whole-of-government lead on implementation of the second NAP.