Canberra
Australia announced a $56.8 million investment to tackle violence against women in Southeast Asia on Monday, coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The funding will support a new initiative aimed at improving sexual and reproductive health and rights across the region, with a focus on eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls.
The “Towards Universal Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in the Indo-Pacific” program will collaborate with key partners like the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), International Planned Parenthood Federation, Marie Stopes International, and UNICEF. These organizations will work to improve access to healthcare services, education, and resources for sexual and reproductive health.
Australia’s commitment includes outreach programs, digital health services, community awareness campaigns, and efforts to combat child, early, and forced marriages. It builds on Australia’s previous efforts through the Covid-19 Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Surge Response Initiative, which provided services to 4.5 million people and supported over 125,000 survivors of gender-based violence in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
The government also highlighted its ongoing commitment to the global elimination of violence against women and girls, emphasizing that sexual and reproductive health is essential to inclusive development. This new program is part of Australia’s broader efforts to support women’s rights and gender equality in the Indo-Pacific region.
