IWD

Address by HE Ann Harrap, High Commissioner
International Women’s Day morning tea
Monday 9 March
High Commissioner’s residence


Good morning distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen and thank you for joining us to celebrate this important occasion. International Women’s Day is celebrated annually on 8 March across the world and provides an opportunity for us to recognise the achievements of women and their contribution to society.
It is a day to celebrate and reflect on how far we’ve come and, of course, how far we still have to go.

In Australia women have faced setbacks as well as tremendous victories along the road to our equality. For example, Australia was one of the first countries in the world to give women the right to vote and sit in parliament. Yet the nation’s first female federal Cabinet-level minister was not appointed until 1949. And until 1966 women working in the federal public service had to resign when they married. If that legislation was still in place, I would not be standing here talking to you today!

The 1970s and 80s were decades of immense social change in Australia, particularly for women. This period saw the emergence of articulate, politically focused women who campaigned in an organised way for equal pay, equal opportunity in education and the workplace, safe contraception, planned partenthood and adequate child-care facilities.

Since then, much has been achieved and women have won greater equality, freedom and choice.

Today, women make up just over half of Australia’s population. More women than men are now educated at secondary schools and universities, and more women than men graduate from university with bachelor degrees.

Women make up more than half of the Australian public service workforce and hold 36 percent of senior executive positions. In the private sector, however, women hold only around 12 percent of management jobs and only 9 percent of private board directorships.

In the federal parliament in 2009, 30 percent of members and senators are women. Today we have a female Governor-General and three women on the 7-member High Court bench. We have a female Deputy Prime Minister – for the first time in parliamentary history.

I am Australia’s first female High Commissioner to South Africa since the establishment of diplomatic relations.

I tell you all this to highlight that we have come a long way. And while in countries like Australia, women have made great gains towards equality, more needs to be done.

We still have a long way to go with unacceptable levels of violence against women, women are scarce on private sector boards and at the upper echelons of business, and women still earn less than men in many sectors.

The Australian government is doing its bit both domestically and internationally to improve the lives of women.

We have a comprehensive domestic agenda for women aimed at improving economic outcomes, reducing violence, and ensuring women’s equal place in society. These comprehensive programs are directed at all women, including migrant and Indigenous women and women with a disability. Increasing female participation in the workforce and in decision making and leadership roles is a crucial element of the government’s strategy.

Gender equality is also an overarching principle of Australia's overseas aid program and is integral to all Australian Government aid policies, programs and initiatives. Australia's commitment means that women's and girls' views, needs, interests and rights shape the development agenda as much as men's and boys'. Women and men will participate in and benefit equally from the aid program, and development will support progress towards equality between women and men, boys and girls.

To secure women’s and girls’ development, what is needed is real, positive change that will give more power and confidence to women and girls. It requires access to economic resources, participation and leadership in decision making, respect for the human rights of women, and an increased capacity to tackle gender equalities.

Men have a particular role to play in this regard.

All men – husbands, fathers, brothers and male leaders – can assist by helping to build a culture based on non-violence and gender equality and by looking at and transforming their own attitudes and behaviour towards women.

Men can be role models, help to provide equality of opportunity, take part in public actions and campaigns, like today, - be champions for women, both in the home and the work place. And – and where possible men can give hope and confidence to young girls and women that they can be fully empowered and engaged – so that all of society benefits.

Today I want to introduce to you two male role models who are helping to do just that. Joel Kelly and Mtutu Hlomela both work for AFL South Africa – an organisation that aims to bring Australian Rules Football to South Africa.

As the Australians among us would know this footy game was introduced to Australia 150 years ago as a winter alternative for cricketers and is now the country’s largest sport. Some 700,000 Australians play the game on a regular basis with a further 35,000 players established in International competitions in over 30 countries worldwide.

The AFL has been generating interest about the game in South Africa since 1997 and there are now over 17,000 footyWILD participants nationally – the thing that I like best about what the AFL is doing in South Africa is that they are, through sport, helping to build self-esteem, self-confidence and self-belief in the hearts and minds of thousands of young children – especially girls.

I don’t want to steal their thunder because I’d like Joel and Mtutu to tell you their success story in changing attitudes and empowering women. So I’ll hand over to them in just a moment.

Before I do, I did also just want to draw your attention to the artworks on display in the adjoining room. These have been primarily produced by South African artist Amita Makan. Amita hopes to undertake her first solo art exhibition early next year and you’ll see from the works that she has a very keen interest in women and identity. I encourage you all to view the works and talk to Amita about them.

Thank you for joining me today and I’d now like to hand over to Joel and Mtutu.