While trail-blazing women have achieved a great deal in the last century, many struggles lay ahead in achieving gender equality. Whether it be in the education of girls in the developing world, tackling violence against women, or securing opportunities in global leadership, women in Australia and the world are rightly demanding better.
This International Women’s Day, to be held on 8 March, the world will celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women, and take the time to reflect on what lays ahead. To mark the occasion, Policy Forum has launched this special In Focus: International Women’s Day section to shine a light on the state of gender equality in Australia and the region, and invite authors to discuss the various issues policymakers face in achieving it.
Readers, we encourage you to join the discussion, and share your thoughts on all the policy progress yet to come.
Economics and finance | The World
Gender issues are vast and complicated, and require both social and policy action to tackle. The European Union is not doing enough on either front, and its struggle reveals the need for change, Valia Kalaitzi writes.
5 minute read
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Women with a disability are some of the most deprived people in society, but the challenges they face are poorly understood, Angie Bexley and Sharon Bessell write.
5 minute read
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Australia is not doing enough to protect women from male violence, and organisations and the government must come together to forge a way forward on the issue, Kate Grosser and Alison Pullen write.
7 minute read
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Government and governance | Australia
Given their huge potential, it is crucial that smart city initiatives provide benefit for all members of the community, but they are not doing enough to account for gender, Brenda Martin writes.
6 minute read
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Economics and finance | The World
A look to one of the world’s most gender equal countries, Norway, reveals that childcare for very young children is crucial for keeping women with families in the workforce, Astrid Kunze writes.
8 minute read
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Government and governance | Australia
Non-Indigenous Australians and their successes often dominate International Women’s Day. For Australia to reckon with its history, it needs to hear Indigenous stories too, Virginia Marshall writes.
5 minute read
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Government and governance | Australia
Despite decades of activism for reform, victims of domestic violence are still not seeing their realities fully reflected in government policy, and some are losing hope. For change to happen, a continuous society-wide effort is required, Patricia Easteal writes.
7 minute read
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Government and governance | Australia
The work of female peacekeepers in crucial missions around the world brings irreplaceable advantages, but the United Nations and its member countries have much to overcome if they are to harness that potential, Donna Bridges writes.
8 minute read
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Economics and finance | Australia
In this episode, we mark International Women’s Day with a special pod looking at women in leadership, from the boardroom to the front bench.
