R Mabudafhasi on Women and Environment conference during Women’s
Month

7 August 2006

“Women must be afforded equitable participation and decision making in order
to meet the complex environmental challenges,” Deputy Minister Rejoice
Mabudafhasi emphasised when she called on women and men to become activists for
environmental change.

Environmental values should be taught as an integral part of one’s cultures,
Minister Mabudafhasi said, citing an example from Jamaican culture, where an
umbilical cord is planted together with a seedling as soon as it falls off a
newborn child. As the child grows, her tree is made known to her. For this
reason children in Jamaica always aspire to grow as tall and impressive as
trees around them. This practice instils a sense of love for natural beauty in
children as they grow up.

Acknowledging the critical role women have to play in environmental
management, the challenge is to empower women in such a way to contribute
towards the economic growth and social development, stressed guest of honour,
Her Excellency Ms Thandi Shongwe during the keynote address adding that, “We
must answer how we will raise long term productivity and ecological
sustainability of Africa’s land resources and promotion of a sustainable,
internationally competitive and efficient agricultural sector focusing on the
need for women leadership in agricultural and land management reform.”

On the issue of gender and women economic empowerment, Deputy Minister of
Trade and Industry, Elizabeth Thabethe, highlighted the key deliverables of the
Strategic Framework on Gender and Women economic empowerment. “Part of the
economic deliverables that will come out of this strategy is the launch of the
long awaited Women’s Fund and the recently released women entrepreneurs’
directory for procurement purposes.” The strategic framework will also
facilitate entrepreneurial training of women, said Thabethe.

The second Women and Environment Conference sees over 400 delegates converge
at the Ingwenyama lodge in White River, Mpumalanga, with the youth comprising
10 percent of the delegation.

Commending the participation of youth in the conference, Deputy Minister
Mabudafhasi said youth are the future custodians of the environment and need to
be empowered to take care of the environment. “It is therefore only logical
that we should create a window of opportunity for youth to participate in
environmental action,” said Mabudafhasi.

The conference will focus on critical issues affecting women ranging from
environmental governance, economic development as well as water, energy and
agriculture projects. A capacity-building workshop on youth and environmental
projects and campaigns will also be convened.

Enquires:
Mava Scott
Cell: 082 411 9821
Tell: (012) 310 3379
E-mail: mscott@deat.gov.za

Roopa Singh
Cell: 082 225 3076
Tell: (012) 310 3566
E-mail: rsingh@deat.gov.za

Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourisms
7 August 2006