Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women's Parallel ...

12. Article 5:Sex Roles and StereotypingWe note that the Australian Government Report does not refer to Aboriginal and TorresStrait Islander women at all in its discussion of Article 5 of CEDAW, despite thecontinuing stereotyping and prejudice we are subjected to in our daily lives.13. Article 7:Public participationCEDAW Committee consideration of these issues in 2006In its previous Concluding Comments the CEDAW Committee raised concerns aboutthe inequalities suffered by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in many areasincluding political participation. 33The Committee also recommended that the Australian Government consider theadoption of quotas and targets under Article 4, to increase the number of women inpolitical and public life, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women andwomen belonging to ethnic minorities. 34 This has not happened.Positive developmentsIndigenous Leadership Women’s programThe Office of Indigenous Policy runs the Indigenous Women’s Leadership programwhich is building a strong network of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander womencommunity leaders.Consultations about a new national Indigenous representative bodyAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives consulted about a new nationalIndigenous representative body have expressed their support for equal representationof men and women in all processes of the new representative body. 35Challenges in implementing Article 7The mechanisms for the participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women inpublic life and the formulation of public policy are inadequate.33 CEDAW Committee Concluding Comments, above n 5, [30].34 Ibid [17].35 Australian Human Rights Commission, Progress Towards a National Representative Body CommunityGuide, above n 18, 2.30