Case Study Strategy Integrating a Gendered Perspective in International Engagement. – As Defence strengthens and increases its international engagement and collaboration footprint, there are growing opportunities to build consideration of the WPS agenda into its international engagement framework. To this end, in May 2017, the Defence Strategic Policy Committee endorsed a new strategy for integrating a gender perspective into all international engagement activities conducted by Service International Engagement, Strategic Policy Division and International Policy Division. The strategy builds on Defence’s achievements to date and will ensure a continued focus on mainstreaming a gender perspective through the following lines of effort: policy and process; people-to-people links; training; infrastructure and exercises and operations. Incorporating a gender perspective into Defence’s International Engagements highlights the and depth of Defence’s commitment to UNSCR 1325, as captured in policy such as the National Action Plan and DFAT’s Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Strategy. Defence’s strong and demonstrable commitment to the WPS agenda, as enacted through international engagement policy and activities, is likely to have a positive influence on those countries that we engage with, while also ensuring that Defence meets Government expectations of a stronger, more innovative international engagement footprint. Case Study Australia’s Foreign Policy White Paper, 2017 This is the foreign policy white paper in 14 years and it set outs the interests, priorities and values which will guide Australia’s international engagement over the next decade and beyond. Gender equality is identified as a top foreign policy priority and a core Australian value. Gender equality is a foundational commitment of Australia’s aid program, reflecting more than 40 years of Australian effort in support of women’s and girls’ empowerment in our region and globally. The White Paper is clear inequality undermines global prosperity, stability and security. It – ‘gender contributes to, and often exacerbates a range of challenges, including poverty, weak governance, conflict and violent extremism’ (p93). The White Paper also links Australia’s foreign policy priorities to Australia’s commitments under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. These include goals 5 on gender equality and goal 16 on Peace, justice and strong institutions.
Case Study Strategy – Integrating a Gendered Perspective in International Engagement. As Defence strengthens and increases its international engagement and collaboration footprint, there are growing opportunities to build consideration of the WPS agenda into its international engagement framework. To this end, in May 2017, the Defence Strategic Policy Committee endorsed a new strategy for integrating a gender perspective into all international engagement activities conducted by Service International Engagement, Strategic Policy Division and International Policy Division. The strategy builds on Defence’s achievements to date and will ensure a continued focus on mainstreaming a gender perspective through the following lines of effort: policy and process; people-to-people links; training; infrastructure and exercises and operations. Incorporating a gender perspective into Defence’s International Engagements highlights the and depth of Defence’s commitment to UNSCR 1325, as captured in policy such as the National Action Plan and DFAT’s Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Strategy. Defence’s strong and demonstrable commitment to the WPS agenda, as enacted through international engagement policy and activities, is likely to have a positive influence on those countries that we engage with, while also ensuring that Defence meets Government expectations of a stronger, more innovative international engagement footprint. Case Study Australia’s Foreign Policy White Paper, 2017 This is the foreign policy white paper in 14 years and it set outs the interests, priorities and values which will guide Australia’s international engagement over the next decade and beyond. Gender equality is identified as a top foreign policy priority and a core Australian value. Gender equality is a foundational commitment of Australia’s aid program, reflecting more than 40 years of Australian effort in support of women’s and girls’ empowerment in our region and globally. The White Paper is clear – ‘gender inequality undermines global prosperity, stability and security. It contributes to, and often exacerbates a range of challenges, including poverty, weak governance, conflict and violent extremism’ (p93). The White Paper also links Australia’s foreign policy priorities to Australia’s commitments under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. These include goals 5 on gender equality and goal 16 on Peace, justice and strong institutions.
2018-progress-report.docx