Thank you Dr. Farrukh – and can I start by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the land we're meeting, the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation.
I pay my respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
And I acknowledge any First Nations People in the room with us today.
Excellencies, parliamentarians, friends and colleagues
I know many of you have travelled from across our region and beyond to be here at Women Deliver, and it's wonderful to see you.
Thank you to the Australian Parliamentary Friends of Population and Development and the Asian Forum on Parliamentarians on Population and Development for convening this event as part of the pre-conference
Which offers us an important space to come together at an important moment.
Because we are living through a period of significant global uncertainty.
And at times like these, when it's difficult to see what's around the corner, we must take opportunities to stand together and reaffirm our commitment to issues that matter to all of us.
Each of us here today are striving for a better world.
A world in which security and prosperity are the norm, not the exception.
And a world where economic, social and political opportunities are afforded to everyone – no matter the circumstances they were born into and regardless of their sexual orientation or gender.
And the truth of the matter is – we cannot build this world without placing gender equality at the heart of our work.
It is not only the right thing to do – it is pivotal to our success.
Because gender equality benefits all of us.
And societies where women can fully participate in economic, social and cultural life – as well as in governance – are societies where women have agency.
Agency over their bodies and over decisions about their lives in the ways that work for them and their communities.
More equal societies are stronger and more stable societies.
Are more resilient societies.
And more productive societies.
It's why the Australian Government will invest a further $90.2 million to continue programs in our region that advance gender equality and support women's sexual and reproductive agency.
This includes $62.5 million over eight years for phase two of the Accelerating Investment in Women's Rights initiative – or AIR.
Under the first phase of the program, almost 600 grants have been delivered to women's rights organisations and human rights actors in more than 25 countries across the Indo-Pacific.
To bring some of this work to life, in Fiji, nearly 300 rural women have been provided skills training and gone on to gain employment – in some cases for the first time.
And in Nepal, a disability rights advocate received support to strengthen her advocacy capability. She has since secured funding for the disability rights movement and amplified the voices of people with disabilities in national and regional policy platforms.
In phase two, we'll continue our partnership with four leading Women's Funds:
- Women's Fund Asia
- Urgent Action Fund Asia and Pacific
- Pacific Feminist Fund, and
- Women's Fund Fiji.
And our investment will build the capacity of organisations and actors to grow their impact and broaden their reach, including during humanitarian and climate emergencies.
We know that progress on gender equality is intrinsically linked with progress on sexual and reproductive health and rights.
It's why I am also pleased that Australia is continuing our partnership with organisations delivering sexual and reproductive health and rights programs across our region.
Because women and girls must be empowered to make informed decisions about their own bodies and their own lives.
We're committing an additional $27.7 million for UNFPA to provide essential reproductive health products in the Pacific
and for the International Planned Parenthood Federation, MSI Reproductive Choices, UNFPA and UNICEF to continue to improve access to sexual and reproductive health services in Southeast Asia.
Our progress in these areas depends on a lot of people, especially at grassroots and community-levels.
But parliamentarians have a uniquely influential role, and it's incumbent on all of us to exercise leadership.
We can sustain and increase the focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights across electoral cycles.
We can translate commitments into action.
And we can ensure that population and development policies remain anchored in rights-based approaches.
At a time when demographics are changing and sexual and reproductive health and rights are being challenged, our leadership matters more than ever.
Today, then, is the moment to reaffirm our commitment to a world where gender equality is achieved.
And to take action to bring about that world.
A world where women and girls live with security and prosperity.
And where all of us stand to benefit.
Thank you.