All of Australia's military personnel stationed overseas and 85 per cent of deployed Australian Federal Police officers have completed training to better protect the human rights of women and girls, a new report shows.
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Minister for Women Michaelia Cash said the latest efforts to integrate the protection of women and responses to gender-based violence into Australia's peace and security missions overseas had seen 100 per cent of the 1525 Australian Defence Force personnel currently deployed complete specialist training based on a range of United Nations Security Council resolutions supported by Australia.
Training rates for deployed ADF personnel has seen a 30 per cent increase, from 53 per cent in 2013.
For Australian Federal Police officers working on overseas deployments, the figure has increased from 69 per cent in 2014 to 85 per cent in the latest report.
The training promotes women's participation in conflict prevention, management and resolution, with an overall goal of achieving lasting piece in international deployments. It is subject to annual reports by the federal government, with the latest update presented to Parliament on Friday.
Among the strategies for improving outcomes for women and girls in conflict zones are efforts by Australia to better support for civil society organisations to promote equality and increase women's participation in conflict prevention, peace building, conflict resolution as well as wider relief and recovery efforts.
Sentor Cash said women and girls remained disproportionately affected by military conflicts, but were also effective in providing cultural change in affected communities.
"Women play an important role in preventing and managing conflict and promoting sustainable peace," she said.
"We have demonstrated Australia's ongoing commitment through the implementation of the Australian National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2012-18, our international aid efforts, bilateral and multilateral advocacy and Australia's leadership initiatives."
"Australia is one of the leading nations in this space and I look forward to continuing to work with my ministerial, civil society and global counterparts to protect and empower women around the world."
The report says a number of initiatives designed to strengthen the role of women as voices against violent extremist propaganda and the recruitment of members of their families or communities to radicalised groups have included building women's capacity to identify early signs of radicalisation, and provide support to those at risk.
The government has helped programs to assist mothers of school children in culturally and linguistically diverse communities to better understand what their children are viewing online and the dangers of online radicalisation.
