Keynote Address by Ms. Rhulani Thembi Siweya, Deputy Minister in The Presidency, on the occasion of the Africa’s Webinar on Women’s Socio-Economic Empowerment and Advancement
We meet today as women from all over the continent with a very specific mission in mind. This webinar on Women’s Socio-Economic Empowerment and Advancement is an opportunity for all of us to contribute to the advancement of women on the continent.
It is no exaggeration to say that our task today is indeed daunting for we all know the myriad of challenges faced by women on a daily basis. It is also a sobering reality that many women remain marginalised and have no voice.
Therefore our task becomes even more urgent. As women leaders, influencers, and thought leaders we have a duty to pave the way for others to follow.
Our continent is blessed with many virtues and top amongst these is our youthful population. It is a well-accepted fact that large youth populations in emerging economies represents a significant economic resource since a young working population can drive economic growth and offset the social costs of an ageing population.
Our continent has a myriad of benefits and indeed limitless potential, however, we face a reality where many remain mired in poverty and unemployment.
Friends,
It is most fitting that we meet today during Women’s Month in South Africa. In 1994 our new elected democratic government declared August 9, Women’s Day to commemorate the heroism of the 20 000 women who marched to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956.
The women of 1956, and many others throughout our history have paved the way for this generation to grasp their destiny and to help build a better tomorrow for all.
The question that I am sure we will grapple with today is how we empower women to rise, and in doing so ensure greater socio-economic advancement.
I am pleased to note that many inspirational women are on the panel today and I look forward to hearing your thoughts and shared wisdom. As women we need to use our collective voices, and our influence.
I know all of us have faced many challenges and that despite our successes we are still burdened in additional ways merely by being women. Our struggles have however, made us resilient and this same resilience can be found in millions of women on the continent.
Let us therefore use today to delve deeper into the challenges that women face, and to explore solutions. Our task today is to use our collective wisdom to find innovative ways to empower women, while also to strengthen gender equality, and inclusive growth across all sectors.
Programme Director,
The empowerment of women is an imperative but it is also the single most purposeful thing that can be done to build a nation. Women are known to invest in their children’s health and education which holds enormous benefits for our fight against the triple challenge of unemployment, inequality and poverty.
In growing our economies on the continent, the empowerment of women can boost productivity, while increasing economic diversification and income equality in addition to other positive developmental outcomes.
In doing so, women will be able to take their rightful place in all sectors of society and be empowered to not stay in abusive relationships for financial reasons.
Women who are financially dependent on their husbands, fathers, partners and family members have increased vulnerability to domestic violence, rape, incest, abuse, and murder.
By empowering women, we give them financial freedom to liberate themselves from abusive relationships. Empowering women is also one of the important levers in fighting the prevalence of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
While progress has undoubtedly been made we still have much to do to ensure women empowerment and equal opportunities in the workspace. The continent like the rest of the world is only now emerging from the long shadow cast by COVID-19, which devastated lives and battered our collective economies.
In many cases the progress made in empowering women has been eroded or has stagnated. We have fallen behind and need to pick up the pace to get back on track.
Let us therefore use today’s session to ensure that we contribute in meaningful ways to ensure the complete and equal integration of women into all aspects of our society.
I think we can all agree that women’s empowerment has to start with the economy. Investments in women are a sure fire way to create jobs, grow our economies and ensure that we uplift women and children.
In South Africa we have focused on women empowerment since 1994 through a mixture of legislative and economic means. Gender equality and women’s empowerment remains central to our developmental state and our drive to ensure sustainable development.
All people in South Africa enjoy the same rights which are protected by our Constitution, and a number of laws have been enacted to ensure the empowerment and protection of women.
These laws have helped to ensure greater gender equality and have empowered many women to take their rightful place in society. However, many women are still excluded, and face the grim reality of gender inequality.
Changing this reality is undoubtedly the biggest cause of our time. The women of 1956 stood up and acted, no matter the cost, and we need to do the same.
As women and as Africans we must ensure that our democracy and our freedom gives rise to greater opportunities for women. We must continue to work to remove the many obstacles that prevent women from rising to their full economic potential. Only by acting can we ensure that women are empowered to take their rightful place in all spheres of society.
Friends,
The little girl who one day dreams of being a pilot must be encouraged, supported and empowered to achieve that dream. We need to create a reality where the only limit to the potential of women is the extent of their dreams and ambitions.
I look forward to the next few hours and I have no doubt that we will together shape a new reality for Africa and her people.
Source: Government of South Africa