Australian Human Rights Commission Submission to the CEDAW Committee – 12 June 2018 recommendations in Chapter 3 of the National Children’s Commissioner’s Children’s Rights Report 2017, relating to data and research, and policies and programs to support young parents and their children in Australia. 30 25. The Commission remains concerned that sterilisation of women and girls with disability, without consent, continues to occur in Australia.31 26. The Commission is concerned that women born with intersex variations remain subject to medically unnecessary medical interventions in circumstances where they are unable to provide full and informed consent.32 Recommendation 5: That the Australian Government ensure appropriate mental health services for women and girls at risk of self-harm and suicide. Recommendation 6: That the Australian Government support, and improve outcomes for, young mothers and their children, with particular reference to the recommendations in the Children’s Rights Report 2017. Recommendation 7: That the Australian Government ensure adequate protections are in place to prevent involuntary or coerced sterilisation of women and girls with disability. Recommendation 8: That the Australian Government ensure adequate legal and policy protections are in place to prevent medically unnecessary and/or harmful medical interventions on women and girls born with intersex variations. 5 Women and work (CO 38–39, LOI 16, CEDAW article 11) 27. There are a range of gender equality gaps in Australia that affect women’s rights to work, to just and favourable conditions of work and to adequate standard of living for themselves and their family.33 28. The Commission has consistently highlighted issues for women in the workplace, including occupational segregation,34 the gender pay gap, the under-valuing of unpaid care work, the low representation in leadership and management positions,35 access to adequate paid parental leave and greater flexibility in how and when to take the leave,36 the absence of superannuation from paid parental leave,37 and the resulting gender gap in retirement savings.38 29. The Commission has made a number of recommendations in key reports and submissions that are relevant to women’s economic security and workforce participation.39 30. The Commission understands that there is currently uncertainty about future iterations of the Time Use study by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, which is an important record of women’s work and provided accurate data concerning the extent and distribution of unpaid work and its intersection with paid work.40 7