Programme Director
Acting Chairperson Mr Shozi
All
Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) Commissioners present
Directors-General
CEOs of companies
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Let me first apologise for not being able to join you today to witness these hearings. As you may know, following the State of the Nation Address, members of the executive use this week to elaborate on what their departments are going to do to implement the Government Programme of Action that was outlined by the President last week. Today our cluster, the Social Protection and Community Development Cluster is conducting these briefings in Cape Town.
I am glad that the Commission for Gender Equality has been able to conduct the second set of these hearings within a short space of time. These hearings are important to establish more information on what the challenges are in bringing about workplace gender equality in both the public and private sector. Whether these challenges are perceived or real, they will have to be addressed with urgency as gender equality is not an optional gesture.
Our nation is founded on the principles of non-racialism, non-sexism and democracy. These principles are entrenched in our Constitution to ensure that the whole of our society plays its role in reversing the impact of hundreds of years of racial and gender discrimination. Whether you are a government department or a private entity, you have to act in a manner promotes equality in term of both gender and race. You also have to provide adequate opportunities for people with disabilities who constitute one of the most marginalised sections of our society.
Programme Director
The issue of parity for women and men in positions of decision-making is critical for both the public and private sectors. In fact the issue of 50/50 gender parity especially in decision-making positions has gained global momentum. 50/50 parity is advocated at all levels – i.e. at the political level, in the three spheres of governance, in the public and private sectors, business, labour movement, civil society structures, in school governing bodies and even at the learner representative forums in schools.
From next week, countries of the world including South Africa will be meeting at the United Nations headquarters in New York to deliberate on the global progress made towards gender equality and empowerment of women. The UN Commission on Gender Equality takes place from 22 February to March 4 and the theme for this year is: Equal access to education, training and science and technology: Pathway to decent work for women.
Many of the government departments and private companies participating in these hearings operate in the area requiring some good degree of science and technology skills. It will be important to establish the progress that they have made in improving access for women in these areas.
These hearing also come after South Africa presented its report on the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in Geneva last month. South Africa signed this Convention in 1995, and we are legally as a country to demonstrate tangible progress in addressing factors limiting progress of women in political, economic, social and cultural spheres of life. Article 12 of the Convention focuses on employment and addresses the very issues that these public hearings are focusing on.
Programme Director
South Africa has made significant strides towards gender equality in decision-making positions, especially at a political level in Cabinet and Parliament. Provincial legislatures and local government follow closely. We have shown marked progress in the public service where women are increasingly appointed in senior management positions.
Many reports continue to indicate a relatively slow progress in many industries in the private sector. Within the private sector there is still a critical gap hindering gender equality and women’s empowerment. In this regard, the CGE’s report on Gender Equality in the Private Sector conducted in 2008 indicates that although there are employment equity plans in place, most companies do not implement them. The wheels of transformation are very slow in this regard, making it very difficult for the accelerated promotion of women and gender equality at the workplace.
While there might be signs of increasing representation of women in some corporate entities, the overall pace of change is really a matter of concern to the Ministry and the country at large. Despite the gains that we are beginning to see, there is still more to be done to meet the actual set target of 50 percent women in decision-making by 2015. This target has been determined in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Gender and Development to which the country is a signatory.
Developmental studies across the world have shown that if you empower women, you empower her children, her community and her country. However, women are too often subjected to discrimination, horrific abuse and violence in all spheres of life - be it at the workplace, in the community, girls in schools and sadly even in their own homes.
Women are engaged in a struggle against patriarchy at different levels. There are many who are struggling for basic survival, to find employment or an opportunity to engage in some form of economic activity. There are those at the shop-floor who are struggling for decent working conditions. And there are others seeking to climb the corporate ladder, but are denied opportunities by “the old boys’ network” at the top.
We have to work together to break these barriers to economic emancipation of women. The outcomes of these hearings will provide us with a valuable resource in measuring the progress made and strengthen our resolve to fight for equal representation of women at all levels of economic activity.
I would like to thank the Commission for Gender Equality and all partners involved in making these hearings a success.
I wish you all the best for the rest of the proceedings and I am looking forward to receiving a report on the outcome of these hearings.
Thank you
Source: Department of Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities
