Celebrating First Nations women on IWD

On International Women's Day (IWD) the Commission pays tribute to the tireless and important work of First Nations women across Australia.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar AO has called for recognition and celebration of the power and potential of deadly First Nations women all over the country who are leading, nurturing and growing the oldest living civilisations on earth.

Commissioner Oscar, the first woman to be appointed as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, recently launched the Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women's Voices) Report, which elevates the voices of women and girls and promotes the enabling conditions required for them and their communities to exercise agency in decision-making in Australia.

“On International Women's Day, and every day, we should think about the power and potential of our First Nations women and girls who carry the knowledge and wisdom from an ancient lineage of matriarchs,” said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar AO

“The theme of this year's International Women's Day is ‘Women in Leadership: Achieving an equal future in a Covid-19 world'. In the Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women's Voices) report, our women and girls sing a call for action to guarantee our self-determination, and to enhance our leadership.

“We need our women to be at the decision-making table and designing the policies that impact our lives. The Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women's Voices) report sets out this call to action in a First Nations female-led plan for structural change. It is not a report for the shelf.

“This International Women's Day, we need to stand with our First Nations women and girls. Let's achieve a gender equality that unites us, and creates a more inclusive and stronger Australian society for us all.”

The Wiyi Yani U Thangani Report amplifies the voices of First Nation women and girls across Australia.

The Wiyi Yani U Thangani project is now in Stage 2 with more opportunities for community involvement to unite and keep our women's voices on everyone's agenda.

Read the report

Read the Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women's Voices) Report and Community Guide.

Media contact

Email: media@humanrights.gov.au or phone: 0457 281 897