Partnership To Advance Gender Equality In Developing World

BOB McMULLAN MP

Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance Federal Member for Fraser

Partnership to advance gender equality in developing world

Today I signed a Partnership Framework with the Executive Director of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) Ms Ins Alberdi. The Partnership Framework will strengthen efforts to achieve gender equality and reduce violence toward women in the developing world.

There is much work to do. Almost 100 countries remain off-track to achieve the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of eliminating gender disparity in all levels of education by 2015.

More than 500,000 women in these countries die annually in childbirth or from maternity related complications. Globally, one in three women experience violence. Almost two out of three employed women are in vulnerable or unpaid jobs.

Australia has provided more than $17 million over four years to UNIFEM as part of our international commitment to advancing gender equality and making faster progress towards the MDGs.

The Partnership Framework we signed today builds on this commitment.

Through the partnership, Australia will support UNIFEM in its central role of progressing gender equality and empowering women.

We will work together to reduce violence against women, by increasing the capacities of law and justice bodies and civil society organisations to prevent and respond to violence against women.

This partnership will build on Australia's own efforts to promote gender equality through our development assistance policies, programs and initiatives.

Media contacts:
Sam Casey (Mr McMullan's Office)
0421 697 660

AusAID Media
0417 680 590

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SOURCE: AusAID