In 2020, UN Women launched its report, “Women´s Rights in Review 25 years after Beijing”, a comprehensive stock-take on the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, which remains the most comprehensive agenda for gender equality ever agreed. Despite extraordinary global challenges today, the report proves that positive change is possible, as shown by the success of women’s collective action to obtain accountability for crimes against them and the flourishing of feminist movements across the world. 

Ahead of International Women’s Day on 8 March, non-profit advocacy group the Gender Justice Collective have launched a public campaign to prioritise development of a National Womens Health and Wellbeing Strategy and Action plan. The National Council of Women NZ (NCWNZ) is proud to be a founding member of the Gender Justice Collective and to strongly support the petition for a national women’s health strategy.

The healthcare system continues to rely on data from studies done on men as if they apply to women also. The evidence that women are being let down by the health establishment is overwhelming. The symptoms and diseases that affect over half the country’s bodies are being dismissed, disbelieved and ignored.

As a country we need to significantly improve the differential health outcomes of women versus men and between different groups of women and girls within our population. Now.

There should be 6 million dollars in the 2021 Budget to prioritise the development of a National Women’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy and Action Plan.

The New Zealand pandemic response must not only include women but the approach must be gender-transformative. NCWNZ has already advocated to Gove

rnment to address the serious gaps in gender health research and data exposed by the pandemic; especially for women who are disabled, older women’s mental health and LGBTQI people.

“This is in breach of our international obligations, a serious impediment to developing effective policies and services and something a national women’s health strategy would address.” says NCWNZ President Lisa Lawrence.

The $6 million allocated to a National Womens Health and Wellbeing Strategy and Action Plan equates to $2.60 per woman in Aotearoa. Surely, women are worth this?

NCWNZ asks that if you do one thing this International Women’s Day, add your voice to the call for this Plan.

Sign the petition, please! https://www.genderjustice.nz/nwhs_petition