The UN High Commissioner For Human Rights, HE Excellency Navi Pillay will be guest of honour at Human Rights 2011, a panel discussion hosted by the Australian Human Rights Commission on Monday 23 May. The discussion will focus on major human rights issues both in Australia and overseas, including constitutional recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, asylum seeker policy, and international human rights issues such as the conflict in Libya. It will also include a special performance by one of Australia’s leading dance companies, Bangarra. This free public event will be held at the Sydney Town Hall, George Street, Sydney, on Monday 23 May 2011 at 5.00pm for 5.30pm. Registrations are essential and can be made through the website, where you can also send questions you would like to ask the High Commissioner during the evening.
Human Rights 2011
WEL member Eva Cox on Q&A
Eva Cox, long time WEL member will be on the panel of Q&A on Monday 25 April. A major theme of the show will be the military. You can send in questions in advance, watch the show and tweet questions or comments on the night.
Gender Matters : 3rd Women on Boards Conference
27 -29 April 2011
Sheraton on the Park
Sydney, Australia
The gender gap isn’t just an image problem: our research suggests that it can have real implications for company performance.
(The Mckinsey Quarterly, A Business Case for Women)
You are invited to clear space in your diary for the 2011 ‘Gender Matters’ Conference, where you will be able to:
- Stay at the cutting edge of the attitudes and actions on gender diversity in Australia’s workplaces and boardrooms.
- Be someone who leads on this critically important issue for Australia in the coming decade.
- Shape a workplace where gender does NOT matter.
We have carefully structured the program with speakers and sessions to inspire you, guide you, entertain and inform you. Most of all we want to give you three whole days of unparalleled opportunities to learn, to share and to build powerful relationships for change.
We look foward to seeing you there.
Claire Braund and Ruth Medd
Founders and directors
Women on Boards
Defence forces and a culture of sexual violence
We reported a couple of weeks ago that the Australian Navy had to stop work for a day to learn that sexual harassment is unacceptable behaviour.
Maybe this should be extended to the whole of the defence forces.
In the latest in a long record of poor treatment of women, a young woman was secretly filmed having consensual sex with the recording then broadcast on the internet to mates. Because, that’s what mates do! As if that wasn’t bad enough, the Defense Forces have apparently penalised the victim, to the point of asking that she apologise for blowing the whistle.
Family Law Amendment referred to Committee – again
The Family Law Amendment (Family Violence) Bill 2010 has been referred to Committee for enquiriy – again.
This Bill changes the Family Law Act to improve safety for children and women in family law.
Women’s Electoral Lobby urges everyone with an interest in children’s safety to make a submission.
It is important to note that the name of the Bill and some of the provisions have changed, so please make sure you look at the Committee webpage for all details.
Submissions are due 29 April 2011.
