Designing the Wiyi Yani U Thangani Framework and Institute

The Australian Human Rights Commission invited submissions to inform the development of the Wiyi Yani U Thangani Framework for Action for First Nations Gender Justice and Equality (working title) and the First Nations Gender Justice Institute.

The Institute and Framework for Action are independent of government, designed by and for First Nations women and girls, to translate the significant evidence of the Wiyi Yani U Thangani project into action to achieve First Nations gender justice and equality. 

They are about creating space for First Nations women and girls to come together, share stories and translate lived experience into evidence, informing policy and decision-making and shifting systems. They will set out the actions for nationwide structural reform to achieve First Nations gender justice and equality, and will build on and respond to the themes and priorities set out in the Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices): Securing our Rights, Securing our Future Report (2020) and Implementation Framework (2021). 

This submission process is intended to gather information to ensure data, measurement and evaluation approaches used in and alongside the Framework and Institute reflect the values, needs and priorities of First Nations women and girls. It is also important that these approaches, including indicators to measure change, reflect a First Nations conception of gender justice and equality. The Australian Human Rights Commission recognises the need to find and develop alternative tools and practices to decolonise data and measurement approaches, ensuring that First Nations women’s knowledges and practices are centred, and to strengthen Indigenous data sovereignty and governance. 

To take the next steps of translating evidence into lasting and meaningful change, this submission process asks for your insights, experiences and ideas across the following themes: 

• Measuring change outcomes
• Ensuring a strong accountability and evaluation approach
• Protecting and strengthening data sovereignty and governance

Submissions are open to Indigenous and non-Indigenous individuals above 18 years, groups and organisations who work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls, and/or have developed measurement and evaluation approaches related to gender equality and intersectional movements. We also encourage young people to contribute, however submissions by anyone below 18 years of age will need to be supervised, consented to and submitted by parent, guardian or youth representing organisation. 

Please view the following documents before providing a submission:

• Call out for Submissions (includes background information and guiding questions)
• Participant Information Sheet (includes information about privacy and consent)

Head to the Wiyi Yani U Thangani website to learn more.

How to provide your submission:

Ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to share their views, experiences and opinions in ways that best suit their needs, we invite submissions as written, video or creative expression (artwork, poetry, song or any other expression you wish to use).

Upload your submission here

The online submission form collects some personal information and includes a consent declaration which will only be viewed by the Australian Human Rights Commission. Please read the Participant Information form (below) before submitting a response.

Individuals or groups are also welcome to have a yarn with a member of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice team at the Australian Human Rights Commission. Select the yarn option on the link to the submission form above and a member of the team will get back to you. Enabling a team member to call you ensures that we don’t miss your call and have time to take notes and listen carefully. 

If you would like to mail your submission, please post to:

Social Justice Team, Australian Human Rights Commission 
GPO Box 5218 Sydney NSW 2001

If posting, please also complete the online form to provide your consent to being a part of the submissions process.

Contact

The policy team are contactable at wiyiyaniuthangani@humanrights.gov.au or (02) 9284 9600.

If you are under 18 years, please email niamh.kealy@humanrights.gov.au

What will happen to your submission?

Submissions will be used for the purposes of developing the Wiyi Yani U Thangani Framework for Action for First Nations Gender Justice and Equality and First Nations Gender Justice Insititute, for any subsequent reporting, and for the promotion and utilisation of any report. Please note that:

• submissions may be provided by the Commission to our Minister, Parliament and other government agencies or subject to Freedom of Information requests
• the Commission aims to publish submissions on its website
• you can indicate on your submission if you wish for your submission to be kept confidential
• the Commission reserves the right to edit (for example, remove defamatory material or de-identify personal or sensitive information), or not to publish a submission, or any part of a submission, on its website at its own discretion.

Further information about publication and privacy in relation to the submissions process can be found in the Commission’s Submissions Policy.