It is now widely acknowledged that the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting women and men in different ways; it is not gender neutral. The by-products of economic shock and its impact on insecure employment have hit women particularly hard. Women are over-represented in industries most affected by the virus.
While the broader sphere of sexual and reproductive health affects all genders and sexualities, women carry a disproportionate burden of reproductive health issues.
Women face specific health care needs and without a national women’s health policy these cannot be adequately addressed. Health care research generally focuses on men, despite symptoms often differing between men and women. For example, heart attacks in women can often present with much more subtle symptoms which are easily ignored.
The impacts of air pollution from coal power stations, and rising CO2, as well as the resultant climate impacts, such as heat waves, rising temperature, drought and climate related disasters have specific systemic outcomes for women.
Our position is that every child should be a wanted child, and that parents should have access to good quality information and services which enable them to make decisions as to the numbers and spacing of their children.
We welcome the intent of the legislation to remove abortion from the criminal code. This has been the legal situation in the Australian Capital Territory for a number of years. A decision to terminate is best made by a voluntary decision of the woman in consultation with her doctor.
The Productivity Commission was asked by the Federal Government in February 2008 to undertake a public inquiry into paid maternity, paternity and paternal leave, reporting by February 2009. The Commission put out a background paper in April 2008, followed by a round of hearings and submissions.
The emerging problems of dysfunctional families, domestic violence and/or consequent neglect and abuse of children need to be addressed. Parents need support services aimed at helping them to cope well with their responsibilities as carers of their children.
The Social Policy Committee of the NFAW advises the Board of Directors on relevant issues, commissions research and manages a range of activities intended to promote informed public debate on public policy issues.
