HELEN BERENTS, OUTI DONOVAN, QUEENIE PEARL TOMARO,ANGGIA VALERISHA, MARIEL DOMINIQUE VERROYA AND ERIKA ISABEL BULAN YAGUE |
Gender equality is often framed as a social or human rights issue. But as Griffith Asia Institute (GAI) argues in its recent submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, gender equality is also a core pillar of national security, economic resilience, and democratic stability—for Australia and for the Indo-Pacific region.
The submission, authored by A/Prof Helen Berents, Dr Outi Donovan, Dr Queenie Pearl Tomaro, Anggia Valerisha, Mariel Dominique Verroya, and Erika Isabel Bulan Yague, calls for a fundamental shift in how Australia understands and operationalises security. Rather than treating gender equality as a peripheral or “soft” policy concern, the authors make the case for embedding it across foreign policy, disaster response, humanitarian action, counter-extremism, and democratic governance.
Security starts with inclusive institutions
Research consistently shows that gender-inclusive institutions make better decisions, manage crises more effectively, and sustain public trust—a critical foundation of national security.
When institutions fail to account for gendered realities, the consequences are most visible during crises. From the women-led community response to the 2022 Northern Rivers floods in NSW to post-Typhoon Haiyan recovery in the Philippines where women were excluded from planning, women often shoulder disproportionate burdens. These cases underscore why national security must be understood as dynamic and institution-focused, shaped by climate stress, democratic backsliding, and geopolitical uncertainty.
Australia’s opportunity—and risk—as a middle power
Australia’s influence as a middle power rests on diplomacy and coalition-building, yet global progress on gender equality is falling short while multilateral cooperation weakens. In this context, inclusive and trusted institutions are central to Indo-Pacific stability.
Australia has built a strong reputation as a gender equality advocate. Women now comprise more than half of DFAT’s workforce, and female Heads of Mission have increased markedly. Gender targets in development assistance and the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) National Action Plan provide solid foundations. However, without sustained investment and meaningful local partnerships, this progress is vulnerable. Gender inequality should be treated as a security risk that undermines social cohesion, governance, and economic opportunity.
From policy silos to strategic integration
Despite progress, gender equality remains unevenly integrated across policy areas. It is strongest in development but weaker in trade, disaster management, humanitarian response, and counter-extremism—gaps that become costly during crises.
The submission calls for reframing gender equality as a core security and resilience function, embedded in risk assessment, preparedness, and accountability frameworks. Treating gender as optional weakens crisis readiness and institutional performance under pressure.
Regional leadership through Women, Peace and Security
Australia’s partnership with ASEAN offers a strategic platform to advance gender equality. Following ASEAN’s 2022 Regional Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, Australia is well positioned to support implementation—particularly in member states without national action plans.
Formalising gender equality as a core pillar of Australia–ASEAN engagement, including through a dedicated WPS implementation mechanism, would strengthen regional resilience. Linking WPS with the Youth, Peace and Security agenda would further support inclusive and locally led peacebuilding.
Gender, extremism, and democratic resilience
Gender equality is essential to effective approaches to preventing and countering violent extremism. Evidence shows that gendered inequalities shape both vulnerability to, and resilience against, extremism, yet women-led prevention initiatives remain under-supported.
Violence and exclusion targeting women in political leadership should also be recognised as an early warning sign of democratic erosion and security risk. Such dynamics weaken institutional trust, distort political competition, and increase vulnerability to instability.
Investing in locally led leadership
Locally led civil society organisations play a critical role in responding to digitalisation, climate stress, and crisis recovery, yet chronic under-resourcing undermines their impact. Short-term funding weakens trust, capacity, and long-term effectiveness.
Sustained investment in women-led and community-based organisations is therefore not only good development practice, but a strategic investment in security and resilience.
A call for integrated action
Across ten recommendations, Griffith Asia Institute’s submission makes a clear case: gender equality is foundational to national, economic, and regional security. Embedding it across Australia’s foreign, security, humanitarian, and governance frameworks would strengthen resilience at home and reinforce Australia’s leadership in the Indo-Pacific.
In an era of compounding crises, partnering with women as leaders and experts is not optional—it is essential to a peaceful, stable, and secure region.
Associate Professor Helen Berents, Dr Outi Donovan, Dr Queenie Pearl Tomaro, Anggia Valerisha, Mariel Dominique Verroya, Erika Isabel Bulan Yague are members of the Griffith Asia Institute.
