Taking the leadership of Indigenous women to the world
Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Elizabeth Broderick is one of Australian delegation of women in attendance at the 53rd Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, the annual summit which is being held in New York City in March.  One of the critical areas of international discussion at the summit is the gender perspectives of the financial crisis. Commissioner Broderick said that there is growing concern around the world that women will fare badly in the current economic crisis, that initiatives aimed at promoting gender equality will begin to be abandoned and that already vulnerable people will experience increased hardship.  “Women have played a critical role in the world’s economic growth in recent decades, and as such, are a crucial factor in rebuilding a strong and sustainable global economy,” Ms Broderick said. “Australia’s important role in reforming the global economy means we must ensure that domestic initiatives intended to encourage women’s workforce participation are not adversely affected by the economic downturn.”  The Commission on the Status of Women is convened by the United Nations to evaluate progress on gender equality, identify challenges, set global standards and formulate concrete policies that will promote gender equality and the advancement of women worldwide. Many thousands of women and men from around the world attend each year.  Commissioner Broderick is joined by two Aboriginal women from the Marninwarntikura Fitzroy Women’s Resource Centre – CEO, June Oscar, and Chair, Emily Carter – as well as federal Minister for the Status of Women, Tanya Plibersek.
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