Programme Director,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen
I am honoured to stand before you as we collectively pay homage to Charlotte Maxeke, one of the most distinguished daughters of our land. We are here to pay tribute to our leader and mother, who chose a path of selfless service when she could have chosen to stay abroad and become a famous and wealthy scientist. Indeed, we owe her and her generation a debt of gratitude that we will not be able to repay in our lifetime.
The struggles and sacrifices made by Charlotte Maxeke and her generation have not been in vain. Today, as a country, we have registered significant progress in the promotion of women empowerment and gender equality. An array of measures introduced since 1994 to promote women empowerment and uphold gender equality, have drastically improved the position and conditions of women in our country. Women occupy influential positions in government and play an important role in decision-making processes.
The living conditions of the majority of ordinary women have undergone significant qualitative change. Women now have access to housing, water, electricity, education, social services, healthcare and other services.
We are making progress in addressing the primary health care needs of women and girls as reflected in the decline of child and maternal mortality as well as mother-to-child transmission of HIV rates. We are encouraged by these developments, but believe that more still needs to be done.
As a result of the tireless efforts by Charlotte Maxeke and her generation, today South Africa has some of the most progressive policies that are aimed at advancing women empowerment and gender equality. However, the challenge remains the actual translation of these policies and legislative frameworks into implementation. While significant strides have been made to empower women and promote gender equality, women still bear a disproportionate burden of the triple challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment.
Women continue to be marginalized and discriminated against in terms of economic opportunities, the labour market as well as access to land, credit, and finance. In addition, a life of abuse, discrimination and violation of human rights remain the harsh reality for the majority of the women in our country.
Let us work together to ensure that we overcome the remaining challenges that impede true women empowerment and gender equality.
As Charlotte Maxeke who said:
“This work is not for yourselves — kill that spirit of self, and do not live above your people, but live with them. If you can rise, bring someone with you’’.
The best tribute we can pay to this freedom fighter and extra-ordinary patriot is to ensure that we accelerate the agenda of creating a society that respects and promotes the rights of women.
I thank you
