A stable and peaceful Pacific region is a key strategic interest of both Australia and Pacific island countries. Key to this is inclusive security.

Security risks and threats in the Pacific disproportionately affect women and girls and are compounded by a lack of women’s participation in decision-making. Low levels of women’s political representation and entrenched gendered structures prevent women’s meaningful participation in the security sector, which can hide their vital role in security more broadly.

Much of the peace work being done in the Pacific plays out at the community level, but women and men promoting peace and security at the grassroots levels are often not included in formal decision-making. Most Pacific island countries have small, often unarmed police services rather than military forces and instead rely heavily on the rule of law and cultural institutions such as traditional village systems and faith-based organisations. Within these traditional systems, women are key to preventing and responding to the spectrum of security threats. These contributions need to be understood, recognised, supported and resourced. Collaboration between formal and informal security actors could also be strengthened through more representation of women in security institutions.

Australia and the Pacific are generally in alignment in framing security as human security. Australia and Pacific island countries can support each other to recognise, amplify and resource the important role women play in progressing and maintaining peace and security in the region both within and beyond formal security architecture.