Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women's Voices)

Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices) project builds on the legacy of the 1986 Women’s Business Report.

The Australian Human Rights Commission (the ‘Commission’) and the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) have partnered on a national conversation to elevate the voices of Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander women and girls.

Led by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, June Oscar AO, Wiyi Yani U Thagani (Women's Voices) is a multi-year initiative set out to capture what Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls consider to be their strengths, challenges and aspirations for change. 

Throughout 2018, the Commissioner and her team travelled to 50 locations in urban, regional and remote areas across every state and territory. They conducted 106 engagements and met with 2,294 women of all ages. Over 100 submissions and 300 survey responses were also received. 

Informed by the findings from engagements and submissions, the Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women's Voices): Securing our Rights, Securing our Future 2020 report was prepared, and published in December 2020. The report is an extensive whole-of-life report that captures the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls, the principles they think ought to be enshrined in the design of policy and programs, and the measures they recommend ought to be taken to effectively promote the enjoyment of their human rights in the future. 

Read the Report and Community Guide

Following the Report, the Wiyi Yani U Thangani Implementation Framework has been developed to provide guidance for translating the substantial findings of the Report into meaningful action and provides examples of innovative First Nations women and girl-led initiatives across a wide range of sectors. The Implementation Framework takes a gender-responsive, systems change approach across four thematic areas to progress First Nations gender justice and equality. 

In May 2023, the Australian Human Rights Commission held the inaugural Wiyi Yani U Thangani National Summit in Canberra. Over three days, delegates engaged with inspiring keynotes, panels and workshops, showcasing the innovative approaches and initiatives of First Nations women across key thematic areas: Leadership and Decision-Making; Language, Land, Water & Cultural Rights; Societal Healing and Intergenerational Wellbeing; and Economic Justice & Empowerment. Taken together, the Summit put forward First Nations women-led solutions to some of the most significant challenges faced by First Nations women, communities and all of society. 

Read the Summit Communique, Youth Statement and other Summit documents on the Wiyi Yani U Thangani website

For more information on this project, and to register for updates, go to https://wiyiyaniuthangani.humanrights.gov.au/