8 March 2006
The history of human development has been a struggle against unequal
relations of power between and among different sections of society, including
between classes, the rich and the poor as well as between men and women. Human
progress has meant that no development and advancement of society would be
complete without due attention to the extent to which this advancement benefits
all those that have been disadvantaged by this history particularly women.
On the eve of the year 2000 23rd Special Session of the United Nations (UN)
General Assembly and referring to the high level 49th Session of the UN
Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), Monica Aleman and Yifat Susskind of
the United States (US) progressive women's organisation, MADRE, wrote
that:
"For the first time in history, the seemingly self evident assertion that
women's rights are human rights is backed by the force of an international
legal instrument. This is perhaps the most essential accomplishment of the
Beijing Platform for Action (PFA) the document produced at the 1995 UN World
Conference on Women held in Beijing. In fact, the PFA represents the most
extensive set of commitments ever made by governments to advance women's
equality and human rights.â
As a member state of the UN and a signatory to the UN Declaration of Human
Rights, our country South Africa is bound by these commitments and has since
moved to place issues of gender equality and women emancipation high in our
national agenda of reconstruction and development.
Almost half a century prior to that 2000 special session of the UN General
Assembly in our own country, a group of women from diverse political, class,
cultural and religious backgrounds marched to the Union Buildings, the seat of
the then apartheid government to register their anger against the rampant
oppression and suppression of womenâs rights.
This year marks the 50th Anniversary of that Womenâs March to the Union
Building. As a province and as a country we are very proud of the gains we have
collectively registered in the struggle for gender equality and the total
emancipation of our women and girls.
Recently our country successfully held the 3rd Democratic Local Government
Elections in which the ruling African National Congress (ANC) ensured a 50
percent representation of women in the lists of its candidates to all local
councils. We are accordingly very proud today that representation of women in
local government, the coalface of service delivery and development has reached
these remarkable proportions.
Although we will be the first to admit that challenges still abound in the
mammoth struggle to empower the girl child to free the oppressed woman
completely and build a society that respects and values our womenfolk we have
nonetheless made considerable progress.
As we rise to add our voice to the debate on the International Womenâs Day,
we are proud to state that the emancipation and empowerment of women in South
Africa is now an entrenched responsibility shared between men and women of this
country. This shared responsibility will continue to be reflected in the daily
struggles undertaken to end the oppression and marginalisation of women.
As a province and as a country we are determined to ensure that gender
equality should be lived in practice by all South Africans and should find
conscious expression in the policies and programmes of the nation. Indeed
government has moved to make gender equality an integral part of
governance.
We further undertake to advocate a concerted effort to educate people as one
way of changing the attitudes and practices of women and men in society. We
acknowledge the struggles of women against the relations of patriarchy,
including oppressive traditional practice as well as important milestones such
as the International Womenâs Day and the 50th Anniversary of the Womenâs March
to the Union Buildings.
While we are merely an 11-year old democratic infant, gender equality has
become second nature to us and we have made it an essential part of the
struggle to transform our society.
In this very august house, a body of laws including the Maintenance Act,
Domestic Violence Act and Choice on the Termination of Pregnancy Act have been
passed which have impacted positively to the lives of our women. In addition to
these gender specific acts, others, such as the Employment Equity, Promotion of
Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination and Land Bank Amendment Acts,
continue to make life better for our womenfolk.
Let there be no doubt that we are now on an irreversible path of
transformation. Transformation is taking place both at the level of practical
needs like access to basic services such as water, electricity, health and
education and at the level of improving the quality of life of our women.
Women are beginning to regain their dignity and taking responsibility for
their lives. Society's patriarchal attitudes are beginning to change as
evidenced by, for example, the growing anger towards violence against women. In
the private sector and in civil society women are making their mark and gaining
recognition shifting the patriarchal mindsets and changing the stereotypes.
As we join the men and women of the world in celebrating the International
Womenâs Day today, we reiterate our commitment to rid our country of all
obstacles to gender equality and total emancipation of our women. This is our
contribution to human development and the advancement of all humanity.
Enquiries:
Russel Mamabolo
Media Relations Director
Tel: (018) 387 3103
Cell: 082 900 6610
Issued by: Office of Premier, North West Provincial Government
8 March 2006
