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International

The Office for Women (OfW) plays a key role in providing policy advice on international matters affecting women and works closely with the Department of Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Attorney General's Department, the Australian Agency for International Aid (AusAID), and the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

OfW promotes women's human rights in international fora and reports on Australia's progress towards gender equality in relation to United Nations treaties and outcomes documents and Commonwealth countries' gender action plans. A key priority for OfW in the international arena is Australia's implementation of the UN Beijing Platform for Action.

OfW has primarily responsibility within government for Australia's obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). CEDAW is the major human rights treaty for women. It was ratified by Australia in 1983.

Australia's commitment to our international obligations to women's human rights is reflected in domestic legislation, such as the Sex Discrimination Act 1984.