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All Australian Defence Force personnel stationed overseas have completed training to better protect the human rights of women and girls, according to a report tabled by the federal government.
Minister for Women Michaelia Cash said the government's latest efforts to integrate the protection of women and responses to gender-based violence into Australia's peace and security missions overseas had seen 100 per cent of the 1,525 ADF personnel currently deployed complete specialist training based on a range of United Nations Security Council resolutions supported by Australia.
Of the 1,525 ADF personnel currently deployed for Australia, 201 are women and 1,324 are men.
The Australian National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2012-2018 is a whole-of-government approach to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325) and related Security Council resolutions that comprise the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
Minister Cash said women and girls are disproportionately affected by conflict, but are also proven and effective agents of change.
"Women play an important role in preventing and managing conflict and promoting sustainable peace," Minister Cash said.
"We have demonstrated Australia’s ongoing commitment through the implementation of the Australian National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2012–2018, our international aid efforts, bilateral and multilateral advocacy and Australia’s leadership initiatives.
"Australia is one of the leading nations in this space and I look forward to continuing to work with my ministerial, civil society and global counterparts to protect and empower women around the world."
The training promotes women's participation in conflict prevention, management and resolution, with the aim of achieving lasting peace in international deployments.
The government is required to release a progress report against the National Action Plan’s Monitoring and Evaluation Framework every two years.
Some of the strategies employed, or to be employed by the government, are:
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