Dear Mrs Irwin

Thank you for your letter of 20 August 2009 forwarding a petition submitted to the Standing Committee on Petitions regarding justice for “comfort women”.

The Australian Government places great importance on the promotion of universal human rights, including, of course, the rights of women. Australia was one of the original signatories to the UN Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 1980 and ratified the Convention in 1983. Australia formally acceded to the Optional Protocol to CEDAW on 4 December 2008.

This matter falls within the portfolio responsibilities of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Stephen Smith MR I have taken the opportunity to forward a copy of your letter to Minister Smith for his consideration and reply.

from the Minister for the Status of Women, Ms Plibersek