The North West Provincial Government continues to strive and uphold the plight of women in all aspects of our life time. On 9 August 2011 the women of the province will converge at Montshiwa Stadium to commemorate Women’s day with a single aim of charting forward further emancipation of women in all spheres.
This year marks the 55th Anniversary of more than 20 000 women march to the Union Buildings to protest the inclusion of women in the pass laws controlling the movements of black people on 9 August 1956. Subsequently August month is declared women month in honour of those women and the current generations for their immense achievements with several activities.
This year’s theme aims at pushing back the frontiers of poverty and leadership affecting women as well as forging a united front for women’s development and empowerment viz. “Working together to enhance women’s opportunities to economic empowerment”, It is during this period that the country takes stock of challenges persisting in attaining women’s empowerment and gender equality especially with regards participation in the economy and broader leadership.
Generally women are facing critical challenges with economic dependency on men being the worst.
In order that a positive step is taken towards a better future for women, the Framework for the New Growth Path must be engendered to ensure the expansion of women’s economic empowerment means such as:
- Women’s access to finance: to develop national level strategies involving governments, private sector banks and micro finance institutions to accelerate women’s access to capital. Develop new instruments and delivery mechanisms to address collateral requirements.
- Prioritising domestic energy: invest in infrastructure and services to meet national energy requirements with particular focus on rural electrification, clean cooking water and other household energy needs as a catalytic contribution to meeting gender equality and alleviating burdens imposed on women by domestic tasks.
- Encourage women to form public private partnerships for local service delivery: creating an enabling environment including supporting policies and regulatory frameworks that provide women entrepreneurs with business opportunities and enable them to be contracted by local authorities to deliver basic services, such as water, waste management and provision of local infrastructure,
- Expanding the opportunities for women’s voice, inclusion and participation especially in decisions that impact their lives.
Premier Thandi Modise will give a keynote address during the provincial commemoration. Again expected will be Members of the Executive Council, Dikgosi and Women’s federations/ organisations. Proceedings are envisaged to begin from 10h00. All government employees are encouraged to attend.
Enquiries:
Shirley Montsho
Tel: 018 388 2763
Cell: 082 345 9525
