L Xingwana: Africa Pre Conference of Rural Women

19 April 2007

First Lady of the Republic of South Africa, Ms Zanele Mbeki
Distinguished Ministers
Women farmers
Women from rural environment and representatives
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen

Good morning to everybody and welcome to the province of KwaZulu-Natal in
the Republic of South Africa particularly all the people who have come from our
sister countries to attend this three-day long Africa Pre Conference in
preparation for the forthcoming 4th World Congress of Rural Women (WCRW).
I must cordially thank you for your presence, especially those people who may
have had to overcome a number of difficulties to be able to be at this
event.

I would also like to unreservedly thank and salute the organisers of this
event, in particular the staff in the ministry, in the departments of social
development, home affairs, science and technology, foreign affairs, local
government and civil society. As I understand it, this conference is supposed
to come up with an African position paper which will form the basis for an
African stance at the World Congress of Rural Women (WCRW) scheduled to take
place from 23 to 25 April at this very same venue.

For the uninitiated, the WRWC is a continuation of the work started by rural
women in Melbourne, Australia in 1994, Washington, in the United States of
America in 1998. The third Congress was held at Madrid in Spain in 2002. At the
latter which Ms Graca Machel attended, South Africa was given the honour to
host the 4th Congress. It was at this Congress that Ms Machel received a
ceremonial bowl marking acceptance of South Africa to host the event, the first
of its kind to be held on the African continent.

The WRWC is a non-governmental, cross-sectoral global initiative aimed at
discussing issues affecting rural women and develop practical solutions to
challenges they face in the 21st Century. It also provides a platform for
policy makers, donors, development agencies, non-governmental organisations and
government representatives from Africa and International organisations to
discuss, share lessons and experiences on mechanisms to address the plight of
rural women.

Programme director, for the next coming two days, this conference will
endeavour to highlight the plight of women in African rural areas with a focus
on continental initiatives aimed at improving their lives. This three day long
conference will set in motion initiatives that are going to help us mobilise
stakeholders to implement our actions in pursuit of 2015 Millenium Development
Goals. At this Conference I believe that together we are going to highlight
progress made in implementing the resolutions of the World Summit on
Sustainable Development with particular regard to women development and global
commitment to empower women.

Ladies and gentlemen, focus will also be made on the things which
South
Africa has done during the four years since the 3rd World Congress in Spain to
promote women's empowerment for rural, economic, political and social
development. It is in this regard that five thematic areas flowing from the 3rd
World Congress will be discussed and these include:
* globalisation and eradicating poverty
* peace and stability
* governance for sustainable rural development at all levels
* access to and control of resources and environmental security
* health and environmental security.

Programme director, the impact of globalisation has a marked effect on the
employment opportunities and threats for rural women, consequently issues
relating to employment and remuneration still require research and attention.
Peace building effort need to merge gender and development and adopt rights
based approach from the onset. In particular there is a need to include women
in peace talks and post conflict nation building.

Governance for sustainable rural development at national, regional and
sub-regional levels require the political and administrative will and adequate
human and financial support from governments. There is also a need to include
gender perspective in budgets at these levels. Ladies and gentlemen, on the
question of access to and control of resources and environmental security it
has become necessary that issues relating to population should be given urgent
attention. Improved transportation for rural people is required and so are the
women's property rights and security of land tenure.

A major focus on the health and well-being of women, particularly on
HIV/AIDS is necessary. We are all aware of the adverse effect the AIDS pandemic
have on agriculture. A continuing and increased emphasise on education is also
required. In this regard the education and empowerment of rural women need to
be accompanied by programmes aimed at men as well. In addition programmes in
economic literacy for people at community level must be developed and
implemented. We expect the outcomes of this conference to form part of the
forthcoming WCRW report which will inter alia include:

* congress statement, recommendations and/or resolutions
* commitments from participating governments to translating into actions
recommendations and /or resolutions from the congress
* record of regional consultations
* record of national consultations and
* record of deliberations from the women voice tent including
* record of all the proceedings.

In conclusion I would like to quote Her Majesty, Queen Sofia of Spain during
her opening address of the 3rd congress. She said, "I know you are very aware
that nothing is achieved without effort and sacrifice. You have a wealth of
experience in this area, but everything done to support harmony, coexistence,
the struggle for personal dignity and the achievement of freedom will always
leave its mark and can be used as a gratifying example, such as the one you are
providing to your children and the very society you are helping to
transform."

I tend to agree with Her Majesty, Queen Sofia of Spain and I am sure that
with an effort from all of us we will make further inroads in making a better
life for all our rural women, but I need to sound a warning that much as we
need all the help we can get from the international community, it is our duty
to identify that which is crucial for our own development. No one will do this
but ourselves. We know and understand our plight. We know our situation.

With these few words I trust and hope that throughout these three days we
shall emerge from this conference with answers to these issues in order to
uplift our lives and those of our brethren on the African Continent.

I thank you.

Issued by: National Department of Agriculture
19 April 2007