We call on all political parties and candidates to commit to ensuring affordable, accessible abortion care in Australia. See our joint statement in full with Women’s Health Services Network (WHSN) members and partners.
Abortion is essential healthcare and must be accessible—no matter where you live, who you are, or how much money you have.
Australia’s healthcare system is built on the promise of universal access. Yet for many, abortion remains difficult to access—due to geography, cost, limited providers, stigma, and discrimination. These barriers disproportionately impact people on low incomes, those in rural and remote communities, young people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and migrant and refugee communities.
The rise of the anti-rights movement is threatening sexual and reproductive health rights around the world—and Australia is not immune. We are seeing renewed attempts to wind back abortion rights in some states and territories.
Now more than ever, we need bold, unified political leadership at all levels of government to protect abortion rights and strengthen access.
As a women’s health service and intersectional feminist organisation, WHIN is committed to advancing the health, safety and wellbeing of our communities.
We are deeply concerned and outraged about the wars and atrocities that are taking place in many parts of the world and we grieve the loss of lives. We are particularly concerned for the effects on women and children, who are disproportionately impacted by war, as experienced in all disasters.
We join with other women’s health organisations to actively condemn violations of international law and call for immediate and permanent ceasefire of the war in Gaza.
We express our deep concern for, and solidarity, with women and gender-diverse people directly impacted by armed conflict all over the world, who are living with the devastating impacts of war, armed conflict and displacement. We honour the courage and commitment of those working for peace in horrendous circumstances.
We extend our sympathy to all community members, partner organisations, WHIN staff and Board members and other stakeholders who have been and continue to be affected.
WHIN recognises our privilege to speak out against the oppression and discrimination experienced by others. We condemn all forms of hate speech, violence and discrimination, and call for access to fair information, freedom of expression and safe protest for all.
Please consider supporting the following organisations who support women in conflict affected areas:
In 2024, Women’s Health In the North will be proudly promoting the International Women’s Day (IWD) theme ‘Count Her In: Accelerating Gender Equality through Economic Empowerment’.
#CountHerIn highlights that women’s economic empowerment is central to realising women’s rights and gender equality. For more information about the 2024 theme see UN Women’s web page here.
The theme also aligns with WHIN’s Economic Equality work. Our financial capability program, ‘Let’s Talk Money’ has been positively impacting the lives of more than 1,600 multicultural women and their families in our region since 2017. We are expanding the program this year to drive economic gender equity and create pathways to greater economic inclusion for women and gender-diverse people across the whole of Victoria. Look out for our monthly e-News and social media pages for progress on this exciting work.
WHIN is again adopting and aligning our IWD theme with two credible, international organisations: UN Women Australia and International Women’s Development Agency (IWDA). Each organisation has a long history of advocating for women’s rights and gender equality internationally with the message ‘women’s rights are human rights’.
IWD was first borne out of labour movements for women’s rights at the turn of the 20th century in North America and across Europe. The social justice movement was grassroots until 1975, International Women’s Year, when the United Nations adopted IWD on March 8 when it is still held. The IWD movement has since grown in reach and visibility globally to make IWD a central point for action to build support for women’s rights and their full participation in the economy, politics, community and in everyday life.
A campaign by More Voices, More Representation highlights that 7 out of 10 women and gender-diverse people in Australia do not feel represented on IWD. This reinforces the need to align with the above international organisations.
We know that other IWD themes are promoted each year, including one by a corporate entity that has gained huge influence using search engine optimisation. There is no transparency about this organisation/site i.e. information about its origins, funding or whether it has a Board. In this context, WHIN chooses to support the work of the international women’s organisations who work to promote the rights of women across the world on IWD – and throughout the year.
Women’s Health in the North Inc (the Applicant) has been granted an exemption from the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic) (the Act) to allow WHIN to undertake the following conduct:
advertise for and employ women and gender-diverse people only to work at Women’s Health in the North Inc;
advertise for and employ women and gender-diverse people only of a specified race or ethnic origin, or whose first language is a specified language other than English, to work in the organisation on specific projects targeted at groups of women and gender-diverse people of that race or ethnic origin, or whose first language is that language;
restrict individual membership of the organisation to women and gender diverse people only
require that organisations that are members of the Women’s’ Health in the North Inc be represented at meetings (whether they are present to attend, speak or vote) by women and gender-diverse people only.
“Women and gender-diverse people” include people who identify as women and people whose gender identity does not align with the gender assigned at birth.
“Gender-diverse” is inclusive of trans, non-binary, agender, intersex and other gender diverse individuals.
“Women and gender-diverse people” does not include individuals for whom both their biological and gender identity is male.
As an Incorporated Association, WHIN is a membership-based organisation. Membership is free and available to individuals and organisations. To find out more about becoming a member and to access our online application form, visit our membership page.
Join WHIN today and support your local women’s health service.
Membership of Gender Equity Victoria (GEN VIC) is open! Now is the time to join the Victorian peak body for gender equity, women’s health and the prevention of violence against women.
Membership of GEN VIC is available to any organisation and individual in Victoria that has a commitment to advancing gender equity, holds values that align with feminist principles; and supports GEN VIC’s vision for equality, wellbeing and freedom from violence for every woman and girl in every community of Victoria.
WHIN has been a long-standing member of GEN VIC, formerly Women’s Health Association of Victoria, along with other women’s health services across Victoria. Through GEN VIC WHIN is able to advocate, influence and collaborate to improve outcomes in gender equity, women’s health and in the prevention of violence at a state-wide level.
See the GEN VIC website for a list of membership benefits including strengthening our collective voice and taking part in coordinated action: https://www.genvic.org.au/index.html
