IAEA Board of Governors
Agenda item 12: Any Other Business - International Women's Day
7 March 2025
Statement by Ms Georgia Lowe, Alternate Resident Representative of Australia to the IAEA
Chair
Australia strives for a world where we can find collective solutions to our toughest problems. All countries are better off in a world where rules, norms and standards are clear, mutually agreed and consistently followed.
Australia fully aligns with the statement of the Group of Friends of Women in Nuclear and makes the following remarks in its national capacity.
Director General Grossi has said that gender equality ‘is not just right - it is imperative for net zero, battling cancer, and ending global hunger’.
It is concerning that in this thirtieth year since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, no country is on track to achieve gender equality. Increased women’s participation and leadership helps mitigate labour force shortages and leads to better technical outcomes and greater innovation and resilience.
Today we reflect on the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day, “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment’ and reaffirm our commitment to achieving gender equality and improving inclusion here at the IAEA.
As our Foreign Minister Penny Wong has said, gender equality benefits everyone. And when women march forward, the whole world makes progress. This is why Australia launched our International Gender Equality Strategy in 2025, which reaffirms the centrality of gender equality to our national foreign policy.
Chair
As this year’s International Women’s Day theme reminds us, realisation of women’s human rights is of benefit to us all. Equality in representation and leadership at international fora empowers women and shapes the tenure of international security discussions that will affect all our lives.
Australia welcomes the Director-General’s announcement that the IAEA has realised gender parity in professional categories and higher levels. We encourage the IAEA to continue to build a workplace culture that challenges discriminatory and harmful gender stereotypes, addresses unconscious bias, and values and enables full, equal and meaningful women’s participation and leadership.
We cannot hope to reap the full benefits of nuclear science and technology without the full inclusion of women in all IAEA’s activities.
In this regard, we encourage the IAEA to enhance its work on gender mainstreaming in the Technical Cooperation Program, and to monitor and evaluate its efforts to promote and enhance women’s participation in all aspects of the Agency’s research and training.
Australia is proud to make a tangible investment in the goal of increasing women’s development, representation and leadership in nuclear fields here at the IAEA. We are pleased that our contributions to the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme and the Lise Meitner Programme enables tangible and practical support to women, including scholars from Pacific Island Countries.
Chair
Australia also notes with appreciation the efforts by Switzerland to find ways to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of the meetings of the Board of Governors. We welcome the ongoing opportunities to explore sensible adjustments to ensure our methods of work remain sustainable, particularly in a time of constrained resources.
Australia looks forward to continuing discussions and a possible trial of some measures.
Thank you.