Women Speak Tasmania

Category: Resources

  • Analysis of CEDAW: What It Is, What It Means for Women, and Why It Matters in Australia

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    Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) What Is CEDAW? The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is often described as the international bill of rights for women. Adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1979 and in force since 1981, CEDAW legally obliges…

  • Analysis of The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

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    The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is the world’s leading human rights treaty for children, setting out their civil, political, economic, and social rights. It establishes that every child is entitled to protection, guidance, and care that promote their wellbeing and development. Core Principles of the CRC The Convention is…

  • Analysis of “Fix the System not Me!” Evaluating the Impact of Working It Out’s Programs in Tasmanian Schools

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    On the Working It Out website, we found a report titled “Fix the System, Not Me!” – Evaluating the Impact of Working It Out’s Programs in Tasmanian Schools, developed in collaboration with the University of Tasmania. Curious about its contents, we undertook a detailed review. At first reading, the document appears highly one-sided, presenting the…

  • Analysis of the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations

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    Here is an analysis of the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations (Australian Human Rights Commission, 2018), focusing on parental rights, education sector obligations, and how these can be embedded in Tasmanian policy to strengthen transparency, safeguarding, and family participation. 1. Core Legal and Ethical Basis The document is a national framework endorsed by all…

  • Analysis of the Inclusive Language Guidelines – Tasmania DECYP

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    Tasmania Department for Education, Children and Young People 1. Purpose & Scope 2. What the Guidelines Require / Promote 2.1 Emphasis on Affirmation & Identity 2.2 Strong Norms About “Language to Avoid” 2.3 Use of Neutral Language / Avoiding Gendered Forms 3. Areas of Tension or Potential Overreach (“Compelled Speech” Concerns) While the document frames…

  • Analysis of Supporting Sexuality, Sex and Gender Diversity in Schools Policy

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    Tasmania Department for Education, Children and Young People 1. Overview of the Policy The document establishes that all Tasmanian government schools must create “safe, inclusive, and relevant educational experiences for all students” regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or intersex status.It explicitly directs schools to: 2. Shift from Safeguarding to Affirmation A major theme is…

  • Analysis of the Dentons Document: A How to Manual

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    In 2019, a guide produced by global law firm Dentons with activist partners revealed how trans rights were advanced across Europe. The strategy? Incremental reforms, political gatekeepers, friendly media, and avoiding open debate on controversial issues like children, prisons, and sport. Far from grassroots change, the document shows a carefully managed campaign designed to frame…

  • Analysis of The “41% Study” and Suicide in Transgender People

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    One of the most widely quoted claims in debates about gender identity and medical treatment is that “41% of transgender people attempt suicide.” This figure comes from a 2014 report titled Suicide Attempts among Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Adults, based on the National Transgender Discrimination Survey (NTDS). For more than a decade, this statistic has…

  • Article – AusPath: Activism Influencing Health Policy

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    This article by Jillian Spencer and Patrick Clarke examines the Australian Professional Association for Trans Health (AusPATH) and argues that it operates more as an activist group than a professional medical body, despite its strong influence on health policy. Originally limited to registered health professionals, AusPATH now admits members without medical qualifications, including activists, and…

  • Model Policy for Schools: Sex-Based Rules and Record Keeping

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    UPDATED FOR 2025: This model policy developed by Sex Matters, specifies how a school records, communicates and uses data on the sex of all pupils, and any rules that treat girls and boys differently but fairly. It draws on inputs from parents, teachers, lawyers and safeguarding experts and is in line with legislation and guidance…