International Women's Day: Rights, equality, empowerment
International Women’s Day began as an anniversary of protests by women garment workers over unfair and dangerous conditions and calling for political voice.
It has become a global celebration of what has been achieved over centuries of campaigning and action by women fighting for equality. It also recognises the inequalities that women experience every day, and the urgent need to progress human rights for everyone, regardless of gender identity.
This year, International Women’s Day is focused on equality, rights and empowerment, themes that guide the human rights movement. Today, we would like to share some of our work progressing rights for women and girls.
Equality
No one should be forced to work in conditions of modern slavery, but approximately 41,000 people in Australia are being exploited by employers. The majority of these people are women and girls.
Exploitation of women and girls in sectors like the garment and textile industries is rife. People experience labour abuses, sexual harassment and other forms of gendered harm.
Working with partners across the community, we advocated for the creation of a federal Anti-Slavery Commissioner. We continue to push for stronger enforcement powers and are working with the new Commissioner to ensure businesses address modern slavery risks, and people living and working in conditions of modern slavery have pathways to seek support and redress.
Rights
Women’s rights are human rights. Women and their children in the prison system should have their dignity respected. However, too many women and gender-diverse people endure cruel and degrading practices while incarcerated.
We advocate for an end to human rights abuses in prison including releasing women from harmful solitary confinement so that they can be reunited with their children or babies, and for an end to routine strip searching. Strip searching is unnecessary and is often re-traumatising for survivors of sexual assault, which most women in prison have experienced.
We continue to advocate for an Australian Human Rights Act to make human rights central to our laws. A Human Rights Act would help ensure all women and girls are able to access the health care they need, receive a quality education, and have a safe and healthy place to call home. Read our factsheet to find out more about how a Human Rights Act can strengthen the rights of women and girls.
Empowerment
Women have long been at the forefront of leading community movements for change. We use our platform and expertise to amplify their advocacy. We acknowledge and celebrate incredible women fighting for justice everywhere.
These include Aboriginal advocate Aunty Vickie Roach who helped win voting rights for people in prison.
Theonila Roka Matbob who is seeking remedies for devastation left behind by Rio Tinto’s Panguna mine in her community in Bougainville.
Dr Susie Allanson who fought side-by-side with us in calling for the successful establishment of safe access zones to prevent the harrassment of women outside abortion clinics Australia-wide.
The group of Iranian and Tamil women who formed Refugee WAVE to show the cruelty of Australia’s immigration regime and seek dignity for their families and communities.
We are committed to sharing our power and resources with women pushing for justice and equality.
All of this, and much more, is only possible thanks to your support. We are excited to be working with you to build a future where the rights of women, girls and gender-diverse people are fully realised and where equality, rights and empowerment are at the heart of all our laws and policies.
Happy International Women’s Day.