Natasha Stott Despoja re-elected to UN committee against women's discrimination - MASHAHER

Key Points

Former Australian senator Natasha Stott Despoja has been re-elected to a UN committee on women’s discrimination.
Stott Despoja was first elected to the UN’s Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women in 2020.
She was the first Australian to become a member of the committee in almost 30 years.

Gender equality campaigner and former Australian senator Natasha Stott Despoja says she’s looking forward to working hard in her second term on a United Nations committee.

The author and domestic and family violence advocate has been re-elected to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.

Stott Despoja expressed gratitude to her supporters in a post to the social media platform X on Saturday

The committee is made up of 23 independent human rights experts from around the world, aiming to combat gender discrimination.

Ministers congratulate Stott Despoja on re-election

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong commended Stott Despoja’s work during her first four years on the committee, saying her leadership is pivotal in eliminating discrimination against women and girls.

“Through her understanding of international law and treaties, Ms Stott Despoja will be a strong force in the fight to protect and promote women and girl’s human rights,” Wong said.

“She will be an important voice, as the only expert on the committee from the Pacific region.”

Minister for Women Katy Gallagher also welcomed Stott Despoja’s re-election, saying she will be an influential global leader for gender equality.

“Ms Stott Despoja’s re-election to the committee will enable her to continue work to improve the lives of women around the world, and bring back insights and lessons for us to use as we work towards gender equality at home in Australia,” Gallagher said.

Stott Despoja was appointed to the Senate in 1995 as a member of the Australian Democrats. She became the party’s leader in 2001 before resigning from the position the following year.

She remained active in the Senate until announcing in 2006 that she would leave office at the end of her term in 2008.

In 2013, she was the founding chair of the family violence prevention organisation Our Watch (originally Foundation to Prevent Violence Against Women and their Children). The same year, she was appointed Australia’s Ambassador for Women and Girls, a role she had until 2016.

Natasha Stott Despoja in 2014. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch

She was elected to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women in November 2020, becoming the first Australian member of the committee in almost 30 years. She left her position at Our Watch the following year.

Source Agencies