South Africa’s participation at the 61st Session of United Nations Commission on the Status of Women - 13-24 March 2017, New York
The 61st Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women is in progress. The Session convenes this year under the priority theme: “Women Economic Empowerment in the Changing World of Work”.
The sub-themes focus on challenges and achievements in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals for women and girls – with more emphasis on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Session was preceded by the second sitting of the United Nations Youth Forum which focused on issues relating to education and skills development, access to finance and economic opportunities; combating alcohol and substance abuse and dealing with issues of HIV/AIDS.
The Minister in the Presidency Responsible for Women, Honourable Minister Susan Shabangu, who is leading the South African delegation, delivered the Country Statement at the opening of the Session. The delegation is made up of Ministers, Members of Parliament, government officials, together with private sector and civil society organisations.
In the Country Statement Minister Shabangu focused on the centrality of women in shaping South Africa’s progress international community through their contribution in the world of work. She acknowledged the potential of the Fourth Industrial Revolution to narrow gender gaps as jobs become automated.
This process would not only be disruptive, but also threaten to reverse some of the gains women have made in various career paths. It would have on sustainable livelihoods and households as automation take away job.
The Country Statement reiterated that all the challenges brought by the Fourth Industrial Revolution are taking place at a time when scientific studies continue to show correlations between full participation of women in the economy, growing family incomes and economic growth.
South Africa’s country statement, emphasized that together with other developing countries will not relent in efforts to ensure that women retain access to justice, economic opportunities, employment, equal pay for work of equal value and paid maternity leave.
The statement further underscores the primacy of women’s access to education, particularly in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics fields, which will ensure women’s full participation in the changing world of work.
Further engagements will include South Africa’s report on progress made in the removal of structural barriers in the advancement of women and gender parity in the workplace, while making interventions on closing the wage gap between men and women to ensure that equal pay for work of equal value for both men and women is achieved.
The country will also be making inputs on prevention and response to violence against women, and also learn from other countries that have made progress in preventing violence against women and children
South Africa reaffirmed its full commitment to the advancement of women empowerment and gender equality in the workplace.
Media enquiries:
Nomvula Khalo
Cell: 076 480 3342
082 713 1538 (WhatsApp)
E-mail: nomvula.khalo@women.gov.za
