FOREIGN Minister Julie Bishop wants to leave behind a legacy in improving women’s rights, but an NGO has slammed her record, claiming she is falling short.

Despite a Government pledge in 2012 to double funding for overseas family planning services to $53 million a year, assistance has declined to $24 million in FY2016.

“It’s embarrassing for the Foreign Minister, it’s embarrassing for Australia,” Human Rights Watch Australia director Elaine Pearson told news.com.au. “We’ve seen the aid budget slashed, there have been cuts across the board. This has us concerned, particularly for a minister who is interested in women’s rights.”

While it was a Labor government that made the pledge, many expected Ms Bishop would push to get close to the promised figure, given her stated focus on supporting women.

The Member for Curtin has said her aim is for 80 per cent of Australia’s aid budget to address “gender equality and women’s issues and their empowerment”.

Around 214 million women have no access to contraception, with 800 women and girls dying each day from pregnancy and childbirth complications — the second leading cause of death for adolescents ages 15 to 19 worldwide. The World Health Organization estimates that at least 22,000 women die from abortion-related complications each year.

Ms Pearson said that in an environment where Donald Trump was “slashing foreign aid for women”, it was “really important to step up”. The US President reinstated the “Global Gag Rule” after taking office, cutting aid to groups that in any way engage with abortion. Since this rule was introduced in the 1980s, every Democratic president has rescinded it and every Republican president reintroducing it. It means American overseas health assistance will be restricted by $11.6 billion.

Ivanka Trump responds to her critics after being called "complicit" Ivanka Trump responds to her critics after being called "complicit"

Mr Trump’s powerful daughter Ivanka’s stated commitment to women’s rights has also caused division. At the G20, she joined World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim to launch the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative, but many have criticised her brand of feminism as elitist.

Ms Trump has been accused of being “complicit” with her father — famous for sexist remarks — claiming that if she really wanted to support women, she would be doing more to temper his agenda.

Ms Bishop and the Australian government have a chance to reinforce their commitment to women’s health in the Asia Pacific at tomorrow’s Family Planning 2020 Summit in London, according to HRW, with Australia’s ambassador for women and girls Sharman Stone representing the nation at the summit.

“This work saves the lives of women,” says Ms Pearson. “Ms Bishop needs to match words with action.”

HRW says that despite a challenging context, sexual and reproductive health services are vital in crisis-hit locations, where health risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth are heightened.

For example, in Sudan, the little data that exists shows suggests that maternal mortality is significantly higher in conflict-zones than in other parts of the country, where far fewer women now die because of pregnancy-related problems.

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade told news.com.au: “Australia’s Ambassador for Women and Girls, Dr Sharman Stone, will represent Australia at the Family Planning Summit in London on 11 July and deliver a statement. The Australian Government is maintaining its longstanding commitment to the promotion and delivery of sexual and reproductive health services. It is a priority in our foreign policy and aid program.

“We committed $303 million in funding for maternal and child health, including reproductive health care, in 2015-16. We continue to support the promotion and delivery of sexual and reproductive health services through our key partners such as the United Nations Population Fund. Australia also funds bilateral and regional programs to strengthen sexual and reproductive health services and policies including in Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam and in the Pacific island countries.

“The Government made a commitment that 80 per cent of the Australia’s aid investments, regardless of their objectives, should effectively address gender equality issues in their implementation. In 2015-16, 78 per cent of Australia’s aid investments met this target.”

