Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Hansard source

Gender equality is directly relevant to our national-interest objective of a stable, secure and prosperous Pacific region. By increasing women's economic empowerment, by eliminating violence against women and improving leadership for women, we will help women contribute to the economic stability of their country and, in turn, the region.

Through our Pacific Women program we aim to ensure women and women's issues are represented and visible in leadership positions, at all levels of decision-making, to expand opportunities for women to earn an income and accumulate economic assets, to reduce the prevalence of violence against women and to ensure that survivors of violence have access to support, to services and to justice—because when a woman succeeds so does her family. And when her family prospers so does her country. These objectives all correspond directly to our national interest of a stable and secure region.