Report on resolution 3:
– Date: 20.01.2020
– Country: Australia
– Type of entity: State
– Does your government carry out or support activities that help to implement the 2015 Resolution on sexual and gender-based violence?
Yes
– To date, which areas of the resolution has your government been implementing?
Sexual violence in armed conflicts; SGBV in disasters and other emergencies; movement implementation, cooperation and partnerships
– Briefly describe the specific activities that your government has so far undertaken to implement Resolution 3.
Australia’s policies on SGBV in conflict and crisis At the World Humanitarian Summit (WHS), the Australian Government reaffirmed its commitment to the Call to Action on Protection from gender-based violence (GBV) in Emergencies, and pledged to implement a coordinated global approach to prevent and respond to GBV. Australia’s 2016 Humanitarian Strategy drives action and accountability on sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and gender equality in humanitarian service delivery. In November 2017, Australia released its Foreign Policy White Paper, which reaffirmed Australia’s priority focus and commitment to ending violence against women. Australia’s second National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Peace and Security 2019-29 sets out actions the Australian Government is, and will take, to reduce SGBV in conflict and crises. These actions include ensuring all victims of sexual violence have access to comprehensive support services, including mental health and psychosocial support. In addition, in April 2019, DFAT released its Preventing Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment policy, which sets out expectations and requirements for all DFAT staff and delivery partners to manage SEAH risks and incidents, including in crises and conflict contexts. Partnerships Australia is a leading supporter of international efforts to provide crisis-affected communities with lifesaving sexual and reproductive health services (SRH), as demonstrated through the Sexual and Reproductive Health Program in Crisis and Post Crisis Settings program (SPRINT). Since 2007, Australia has committed $26.7 million to the International Planned Parenthood Federation’s SPRINT initiative, which has responded to more than 75 humanitarian crises in that time, reaching over one million people, and providing victims of SGBV with assistance. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is a critical partner for Australia’s work on sexual and gender-based violence. Australia provides dedicated humanitarian funding to UNFPA to preposition SRH and GBV commodities across identified disaster prone countries in the Asia-Pacific region, for rapid distribution in the event of humanitarian crises. Under Australian programs, UNFPA has delivered essential SRH, GBV and protection services to women and girls in protracted crises in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Syria, as well as in disaster hit crises such as Philippines following Typhoo Mangkhut (2018) and Indonesia following the Sulawesi earthquake/tsunami (2018). The Australian Government has provided AUD 6.151 million to the ICRC’s Special Appeal on Strengthening the Response to Sexual Violence since 2014. The ICRC’s activities encompass providing victims with assistance, such as medical, psychological and social care and other forms of appropriate support, protecting all those vulnerable to violations, and raising awareness to prevent further violence. The Australian Government has provided ongoing support to the Women’s Refugee Commission, to undertake relevant needs assessments and analyses to support consideration of GBV, gender equality and broader inclusion needs, into humanitarian responses. Additionally, Australia has a long running relationship with Geneva Call, funding the organisation’s work to engage non-state armed groups and inform, educate and sensitize them on the impact of sexual violence and encourage them to sign up to the Deed of Commitment prohibiting sexual violence and gender discrimination. Programs All of Australia’s humanitarian programs include a priority focus on gender equality and women’s empowerment, so to ensure that women and girls benefit equally and are well represented in forums where decisions impact their lives, and so victims of SGBV are protected and empowered. One example of this is through the 2017-2019 $220 million Syria Crisis Humanitarian and Resilience Package, which included targeted programs that focussed on the protection of women and children from GBV in Jordan and Lebanon. Advocacy Australia is a consistent advocate on ending SGBV in conflict and emergencies, including in bilateral, regional and international fora. We have made several statements to the United Nations Security Council, General Assembly and Human Rights Council during the reporting period, including a statement by our Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in April 2019 to the UNSC. Military operations The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has a zero tolerance of all forms of SGBV and Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA), as does DFAT. The ADF recognises that SGBV is used as a tactic of war and therefore, needs to be prevented and countered like any other threat. All ADF members are trained on the types of SGBV they may encounter on operations, how to respond and their mandatory reporting requirements. The ADF currently deploys Gender Advisors on OP HIGHROAD, OP OKRA and OP ACCORDIAN who, amongst other duties, conduct training in preventing SGBV and SEA within conflict zones and ensuring mandatory reporting requirements are met in a timely fashion.
– Briefly describe any potential challenges that your government may have faced when working on the implementation of Resolution 3, or which prevented you from doing so
Worldwide, there remain cultural barriers to recognizing and addressing SGBV. The Australian Government is seeking to form coalitions of like-minded actors to increase momentum for action.
– Is there any support you would like to receive from the ICRC or International Federation in working on the implementation of the Resolution going forward?
Australia and the ICRC support each other in implementing the Resolution, including through our current Funding Agreement (2017-2021), which emphasises our cooperation on shared priorities, including the needs of women and girls, and the importance of continued strong engagement on these issues.
– Country: Australia
– Type of entity: State
– Does your government carry out or support activities that help to implement the 2015 Resolution on sexual and gender-based violence?
Yes
– To date, which areas of the resolution has your government been implementing?
Sexual violence in armed conflicts; SGBV in disasters and other emergencies; movement implementation, cooperation and partnerships
– Briefly describe the specific activities that your government has so far undertaken to implement Resolution 3.
Australia’s policies on SGBV in conflict and crisis At the World Humanitarian Summit (WHS), the Australian Government reaffirmed its commitment to the Call to Action on Protection from gender-based violence (GBV) in Emergencies, and pledged to implement a coordinated global approach to prevent and respond to GBV. Australia’s 2016 Humanitarian Strategy drives action and accountability on sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and gender equality in humanitarian service delivery. In November 2017, Australia released its Foreign Policy White Paper, which reaffirmed Australia’s priority focus and commitment to ending violence against women. Australia’s second National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Peace and Security 2019-29 sets out actions the Australian Government is, and will take, to reduce SGBV in conflict and crises. These actions include ensuring all victims of sexual violence have access to comprehensive support services, including mental health and psychosocial support. In addition, in April 2019, DFAT released its Preventing Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment policy, which sets out expectations and requirements for all DFAT staff and delivery partners to manage SEAH risks and incidents, including in crises and conflict contexts. Partnerships Australia is a leading supporter of international efforts to provide crisis-affected communities with lifesaving sexual and reproductive health services (SRH), as demonstrated through the Sexual and Reproductive Health Program in Crisis and Post Crisis Settings program (SPRINT). Since 2007, Australia has committed $26.7 million to the International Planned Parenthood Federation’s SPRINT initiative, which has responded to more than 75 humanitarian crises in that time, reaching over one million people, and providing victims of SGBV with assistance. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is a critical partner for Australia’s work on sexual and gender-based violence. Australia provides dedicated humanitarian funding to UNFPA to preposition SRH and GBV commodities across identified disaster prone countries in the Asia-Pacific region, for rapid distribution in the event of humanitarian crises. Under Australian programs, UNFPA has delivered essential SRH, GBV and protection services to women and girls in protracted crises in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Syria, as well as in disaster hit crises such as Philippines following Typhoo Mangkhut (2018) and Indonesia following the Sulawesi earthquake/tsunami (2018). The Australian Government has provided AUD 6.151 million to the ICRC’s Special Appeal on Strengthening the Response to Sexual Violence since 2014. The ICRC’s activities encompass providing victims with assistance, such as medical, psychological and social care and other forms of appropriate support, protecting all those vulnerable to violations, and raising awareness to prevent further violence. The Australian Government has provided ongoing support to the Women’s Refugee Commission, to undertake relevant needs assessments and analyses to support consideration of GBV, gender equality and broader inclusion needs, into humanitarian responses. Additionally, Australia has a long running relationship with Geneva Call, funding the organisation’s work to engage non-state armed groups and inform, educate and sensitize them on the impact of sexual violence and encourage them to sign up to the Deed of Commitment prohibiting sexual violence and gender discrimination. Programs All of Australia’s humanitarian programs include a priority focus on gender equality and women’s empowerment, so to ensure that women and girls benefit equally and are well represented in forums where decisions impact their lives, and so victims of SGBV are protected and empowered. One example of this is through the 2017-2019 $220 million Syria Crisis Humanitarian and Resilience Package, which included targeted programs that focussed on the protection of women and children from GBV in Jordan and Lebanon. Advocacy Australia is a consistent advocate on ending SGBV in conflict and emergencies, including in bilateral, regional and international fora. We have made several statements to the United Nations Security Council, General Assembly and Human Rights Council during the reporting period, including a statement by our Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in April 2019 to the UNSC. Military operations The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has a zero tolerance of all forms of SGBV and Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA), as does DFAT. The ADF recognises that SGBV is used as a tactic of war and therefore, needs to be prevented and countered like any other threat. All ADF members are trained on the types of SGBV they may encounter on operations, how to respond and their mandatory reporting requirements. The ADF currently deploys Gender Advisors on OP HIGHROAD, OP OKRA and OP ACCORDIAN who, amongst other duties, conduct training in preventing SGBV and SEA within conflict zones and ensuring mandatory reporting requirements are met in a timely fashion.
– Briefly describe any potential challenges that your government may have faced when working on the implementation of Resolution 3, or which prevented you from doing so
Worldwide, there remain cultural barriers to recognizing and addressing SGBV. The Australian Government is seeking to form coalitions of like-minded actors to increase momentum for action.
– Is there any support you would like to receive from the ICRC or International Federation in working on the implementation of the Resolution going forward?
Australia and the ICRC support each other in implementing the Resolution, including through our current Funding Agreement (2017-2021), which emphasises our cooperation on shared priorities, including the needs of women and girls, and the importance of continued strong engagement on these issues.
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