 Hi, I'm Natasha Stott Despoia, Happy International Women's Day. This is my first International Women's Day as Australia's Ambassador for Women and Girls, and I'm delighted to join with women across Australia and around the globe in celebrating our many achievements to promote equality. More girls are going to school. More women are embracing new opportunities to exercise leadership in business and in politics. More often, women's perspectives and considerations of gender are part of our approach to conflict, prevention and peace building. Yet while we celebrate this progress, we also come together in solidarity for human rights, dignity and equality, which is still absent in each of our societies regrettably. We can look forward with hope, but we have to be conscious of the challenges that remain to ensure women's equal participation in political, economic and social life. This year, we recognise that equality for women is progress for all. It's well established that investing in women is smart and it's strategic. That's why the empowerment of women and girls is integral to Australia's foreign policy and our international development work. It's why we're working with women and men in the Pacific to end violence through women's leadership and economic participation. It's why we're engaged through the United Nations Security Council to ensure a greater role for women in preventing conflict and keeping peace. It's why we're investing in women all around the globe. We're working to ensure that women have access to economic opportunities. For example, we support UN women to make the markets of Port Mores be safe for stall holders and their customers. And during the visit by Australia's foreign minister to Papua New Guinea in February, she announced new support for essential services for survivors of family and sexual violence. In Bangladesh, we support the non-government organisation BRAC. It promotes equality and protects the livelihoods of extremely poor women. Since 2002, that program has reached more than one million households. Women and girls drive our economies. They build peace, political stability and progress. Investing in women and girls means prosperity for everyone, women, men, boys and girls. This year mark International Women's Day with me, with fresh resolve to secure equality for women and girls around the world. And enjoy International Women's Day.