Australia is set to place gender equality at the core of its foreign policy, diplomacy, trade, and aid programs under a new international strategy, Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced on Wednesday in Canberra.
Speaking at a U.N. Women event at Parliament House, Wong emphasized that gender equality is a “stronger predictor of peace than a nation’s wealth or political system.”
The newly launched International Gender Equality Strategy aims to safeguard women’s sexual and reproductive health rights while enhancing their security and financial inclusion.
“Across the world, women are facing increasing sexual and gender-based violence, along with reduced access to sexual and reproductive health services,” Wong noted. She highlighted that in the Pacific region, two in three women experience physical or sexual violence.
Globally, 380 million women and girls live in extreme poverty, while 2.4 billion women lack equal economic opportunities.
Anticipating criticism, Wong dismissed claims that gender equality is a “special interest,” asserting that it is, in fact, a matter of national interest.
Meanwhile, the United States—the world’s largest aid donor—has frozen funding for programs that include women’s reproductive health and has opposed clean energy projects for women in the Pacific, as the Trump administration overhauls its foreign assistance policies.
Australia, which provides 40% of aid to the Pacific Islands region, already mandates gender equality objectives for aid projects worth A$3 million or more. Under the new strategy, the government will allocate A$30 million to support aid organizations in incorporating gender and social inclusion targets in their programs, according to the foreign affairs department.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong emphasized that gender equality is not a niche issue but a matter of national interest, directly linked to global stability and economic resilience. Studies have shown that societies with higher gender equality experience lower rates of conflict, stronger economic performance, and improved governance.
Australia’s commitment comes at a time when global progress on gender equality faces significant setbacks, with increasing restrictions on women’s rights, particularly in regions experiencing political instability. Wong’s remarks signal that Australia aims to counter these regressions by making gender equality central to its global engagements.
