Australia’s National Statement to the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women
Statement by Ms. Padma Raman PSM, Executive Director of the Office for Women
11 March 2026
Thank you, Chair. I would like to begin by acknowledging the traditional lands on where we are gathered today, the lands of the Lenape people.
I am honoured to be here on behalf of Australia’s Minister for Women and the women and girls of Australia.
Australia remains committed to the UN multilateral system, including CSW. We support the Commission’s mandate to actively work towards achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.
Australia welcomes this year’s priority theme to consider the multiple and intersecting barriers experienced by women and girls in their access to justice, which is fundamental to achieving gender equality. Without it – rights cannot be realised and impunity prevails. With it, women and girls are safer, more empowered, and better able to participate fully in society.
Australia underlines our support for the Agreed Conclusions. Words matter. The Agreed Conclusions set global expectations by Member States on how women and girls around the world access justice.
In Australia, we understand that justice extends beyond courts and laws. It includes the systems, services and institutions that shape women’s daily lives – both online and offline.
Justice must be accessible, survivor-centred, culturally appropriate and responsive to diverse lived experiences.
We must also address the multiple and compounding barriers to justice faced by our Indigenous women, migrant and refugee women, and women with disabilities, and LGBTQI+ communities.
Our National Access to Justice Partnership provides nationally consistent funding for essential legal assistance services ensuring women can access early advice and representation – particularly at times of crises.
Australia is also expanding specialist trauma-informed sexual assault legal services to support victim-survivors’ engagement with the justice system.
We have established a world-first global Gender Justice Practitioner’s Hub to ensure better outcomes for survivors of all international crimes, including conflict-related sexual violence.
Access to justice is fundamental to women and girls’ safety.
Australia is making record investments to end gender‑based violence in a generation.
Australia recently launched our first national plan to address the high and disproportionate rates of violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children. Called Our Ways – Strong Ways – Our Voices, this landmark plan was co-designed in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, communities, and organisations.
Australia acknowledges the urgent need to improve online safety – recognising the disproportionate harms being experienced by children and young people – particularly girls.
Australia’s Online Safety legislation empowers our eSafety Commissioner to rapidly remove cyber-abuse and illegal and restricted content from online platforms, ensuring they are held accountable.
We are also protecting young Australians.
In a world-first, age-restricted social media platforms are now required to take reasonable steps to prevent children under the age of 16 in Australia from creating or keeping an account.
Our national strategy for gender equality is underpinned by an enduring ambition of an Australia where people are safe, treated with respect, have choices, and have access to resources and equal outcomes no matter their gender.
As we meet here at CSW70, we must continue to work together to safeguard progress in the face of backsliding and resistance to gender equality.
Now, more than ever, we must continue to emphasise that everyone benefits from gender equality.
Australia is committed to ensuring that women and girls – in all their diversity, everywhere – are respected, safe, and empowered to access all forms of justice.
Thank you.