Human Rights Watch has urged the Australian government to strengthen gender-focused approaches across all crisis responses, emphasizing that gender equality is critical to global peace, security, and justice. Following a February 2026 submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and Trade, the organization highlighted the disproportionate impact of conflict, crisis, and climate change on women, the erosion of the principles of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, and the need for a gender-sensitive UN crimes against humanity treaty.
Australia is called upon to support women-led organizations, ensure meaningful inclusion of women in decision-making, and advance an international treaty that strengthens protections against gender-based crimes, including the recognition of gender apartheid. Human Rights Watch emphasized that undermining gender equality not only violates international human rights law but also fuels instability and weakens national and global resilience to crises.
Amid rising militarism, attacks on women human rights defenders, and global rollbacks of gender rights, Australia’s leadership in defending the Women, Peace and Security agenda is seen as crucial. Recommendations include expanding asylum pathways for women and girls fleeing persecution and adopting a feminist foreign policy that integrates women’s rights into all aspects of foreign policy, defense, and national security decision-making.
Daniela Gavshon, Australia Director at Human Rights Watch, stressed that with committed leadership and dedicated roles such as an ambassador for gender equality, Australia has the opportunity to become a global leader in advancing the rights of women and girls worldwide.
