Melbourne: Australia's ambassador for women and girls will be travelling to India on the International Day of the Girl Child on October 11 to announce support for projects for improving girls' access to education and support for women and children affected by trafficking.
Announcing her upcoming visit, Natasha Stott Despoja said "I will announce new funding for projects to improve girls' access to education and to support women and children affected by trafficking".
Despoja along with Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women, Michaelia Cash, reaffirmed Australia's commitment to support the call to end violence against women and girls ahead of International Day of the Girl Child.
The leaders spoke to a delegation led by Plan International where the foreign minister also announced Australia's decision to provide an additional USD 12.4 million in support for women and their children subjected to violence in Afghanistan and Pakistan, bringing the total contribution to more than USD 30 million since 2013.
The delegation comprised of girls and young women from Australia and Pakistan and they were visiting the Federal Parliament to present their ideas and aspirations to the Australian government.
Bishop said violence against women and girls was a fundamental barrier to their rights, empowerment and economic participation.
"It undermines a country's social fabric and costs billions of dollars in health care and reduced economic productivity," she said.
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