Advocacy Activities at CSW – Advancing the Australian Advocacy Agenda

"A key reason for getting involved in this process and investing time and resources in being involved is due to the different opportunity it provides to engage with other Australian participants at the Conference," says Rebecca Vassarotti from YWCA Australia.

In relation to the Australian national advocacy agenda, there were some specific objectives Rebecca and her team had come to CSW hoping to progress. These included:

• To develop their skills around policy advocacy, particularly in the global context
• To increase their knowledge and the evidence base that supports the policy process
• To increase their profile as a credible policy advocate with strong links to global organisations
• To identify the opportunities to progress Australia’s domestic policy agenda.

Prior to the meeting, the YWCA delegates provided the Australian Government with their perspectives around the priority theme and the key issues that they hoped would be a focus of the Government’s engagement at the Commission. They also identified some areas where they saw links with the global and national policy agenda. Two key issues that were highlighted were: the link between the need to provide decent work for women and the current community sector pay equity case; and the opportunities to support women in the Pacific around this theme

The World YWCA General Secretary, Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, was able to meet with The Hon Kate Ellis MP, Minister for the Status of Women of Australia and Melissa Stutsel, Director, Gender Policy and Coordination Section, AusAID, to discuss the advocacy priorities for the YWCA, both in Australia and globally. Several topics were discussed, including: the CSW theme and its implications; YWCA activities around the world; the history of the YWCA’s involvement with the CSW; and their collective passion for the promotion of intergenerational leadership. This meeting also provided the delegates with an opportunity to spend time with other Australians participating in the conference, both from Government and Non Governmental Organisations, and the involvement of the YWCA in this process also offered an incredible opportunity to develop skills and to learn how to engage in policy advocacy at a global level.

The Australian team will continue to make the most of the opportunities provided through participation in CSW, and they are already following up on actions that have come out of the various discussions and meetings. The delegates are observing particular statements made by global entities and members of CSW which support some of the YWCAs advocacy priorities. When they return home, they will provide their observations and provide recommendations on activities that need to be pursued and that link the global outcomes with Australia’s domestic work.

The Australian YWCA delegates also attended the international launch of the ‘National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children’.  The launch was opened by Australian Ambassador and permanent representative to the UN, Gary Quinlan.  Following his address, the Hon MP Kate Ellis explained the importance of the National Plan – which is a 12 year, detailed commitment to eliminating violence against women signed by all states and territories across Australia.  Intensive consultation has taken place over the past 20 years which has finally culminated into this vital and historical document – one of the first of its kind to be multijurisdictional and to commit to over a decade of positive action. The sentiments around the urgency to eliminate violence against women were also echoed by the panel of speakers, including Minister Benito from Kiribati and Australia’s own Elizabeth Broderick, Sex Discrimination Commissioner. Elizabeth opened her discussion with the shocking reminder that one woman dies in Australia PER WEEK due to domestic violence.

For more information on CSW activities

To read the Statement by The Hon MP Kate Ellis Minister for the Status of Women of Australia