Australian Human Rights Commission Submission to the CEDAW Committee – 12 June 2018 32 Australian Human Rights Commission, Resilient Individuals: Sexual Orientation Gender Identity & Intersex Rights 2015, 57. At https://www.humanrights.gov.au/our-work/sexual-orientation-sex-genderidentity/publications/resilient-individuals-sexual (viewed 30 May 2018). See, for example, Re: Carla (Medical Procedure) [2016] FamCA 7. The Senate Community Affairs Committee conducted an inquiry into the involuntary or coerced sterilisation of intersex people in Australia in 2013. See: Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs, Involuntary or coerced sterilisation of intersex people in Australia (2013). At http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs/Involuntary_S terilisation/Sec_Report/index (viewed 30 May 2018). The Commission is concerned that many of the inquiry’s recommendations have not been implemented. 33 The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), in its Gender Indicators release, presents a summary of gender-specific data in six areas of social concern for gender equality: Economic Security, Education, Health, Work and Family Balance, Safety and Justice, and Democracy, Governance and Citizenship. The Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) also collects data from certain employers to track progress on key gender equality measures. 34 See for example: Australian Human Rights Commission, Submission to the Senate inquiry into the economic security for women in retirement (30 October 2015). At: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Economics/Economic_security_f or_women_in_retirement/Submissions (viewed 18 May 2018). Gender segregation in the workplace is a persistent feature of the Australian workforce. Gender segregation occurs at occupation, role and industry levels. In 2015, less than 30% of workers in the Workplace Gender Equality Agency’s reporting organisations worked in gender balanced organisations. 35 Workplace Gender Equality Agency, Australia’s Gender Equality Scorecard: Key Results from the Workplace Gender Equality Agency’s 2015-16 Reporting Data (November 2016) 4. At https://www.wgea.gov.au/sites/default/.../80653_2015-16-gender-equality-scorecard.pdf (viewed 30 May 2018); Australian Institute of Company Directors, 30% by 2018 Gender Diversity Progress Report (16 June 2017). At: https://aicd.companydirectors.com.au/advocacy/board-diversity/30-per-cent-by2018-gender-diversity-target-slipping-out-of-reach (viewed 30 May 2018). A survey undertaken by Chief Executive Women found that women hold just 12% of line roles and 30% of functional roles in executive leadership teams: Chief Executive Women, Senior Executive Census 2017. At: https://cew.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/CEW-Executive-Census2017.pdf (viewed 20 September 2017). In the public service, women make up 58.7% of employees, but only 41.8% of the Senior Executive Service: Australian Government, Balancing the Future: The Australian Public Service Gender Equality Strategy 2016-19, 28 September 2016, 4. At: https://www.pmc.gov.au/resource-centre/officewomen/gender-balance-australian-government-boards-report-2015-16 (viewed 20 September 2017). 36 Australia’s Sex Discrimination Commissioner has advocated for the relaxation of existing laws that require women to work for 12 months before they are eligible to access parental leave. See: Susie O’Brien, ‘Working parents need support’, Herald Sun (9 September 2017). 37 Productivity Commission, Paid Parental Leave: Support for Parents with Newborn Children, Report No. 47 (2009), 4.1. At http://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/completed/parental-support/report (viewed 30 May 2018). The Paid Parental Leave Act 2010 (Cth) came into effect as a result of the Productivity Commission’s 2009 Inquiry Report, which recommended a paid postnatal period of 18 weeks. The Commission supported the Inquiry Report’s recommendation that superannuation entitlements be provided to mothers, subject to certain conditions (Productivity Commission, Paid Parental Leave: Support for Parents with Newborn Children, Report No. 47 (2009), 2.12. At http://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/completed/parental-support/report.) (viewed 30 May 2018). 38 Australian Human Rights Commission, Australia’s Implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (5 July 2010). At https://www.humanrights.gov.au/australia-s-implementation-convention-elimination-all-formsdiscrimination-against-women-cedaw-2010 (viewed 30 May 2018); Australian Human Rights Commission, Submission No 35 to the Senate Finance and Public Administration References Committee, inquiry into gender segregation in the workplace and its impact on women’s economic 19