Programme director
Member of Parliament and Chairperson of the Social Development Portfolio Committee, Ms Yolanda Botha
Representatives of the United Nations
Dignitaries of the diplomatic corps
Representatives of government and civil society
Esteemed guests
Ladies and gentlemen
It is indeed an honour for me to be here today at this important gathering as we commemorate World Population Day 2009, under the theme, “responding to the economic crisis, investing in women is a smart choice.” Allow me to congratulate the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on the choice of this theme as it reflects a major shift on population discourse, from one about numbers, to a critical engagement on the empowerment of women and gender relations in global development. There is no doubt that policy response that builds on women’s roles as economic agents can do a lot to mitigate the effects of the crisis on development. With this in mind, our government has put in place mechanisms to ensure that women are integrally involved and targeted in the design and implementation of our economic empowerment and development initiatives.
At the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in 1994, United Nations member states agreed on a bold plan to:
* achieve economic development
* slow down population growth in 20 years by investing in reproductive healthcare and education
* improve the economic status of women
Fifteen years later, we cannot but rejoice at the tremendous achievements registered in all of the three areas. Sexual and reproductive rights have become central of development policy, healthcare, and post-conflict reconstruction. In 1994, the world’s population of 5.6 billion was growing at 93 million per year, but today the growth is 77 million per year, 17 percent slower. We are also glad that reproductive health is one of the Millennium Development Goals.
The quality of life in general has improved substantially in the world and we can proudly say that the Cairo Agenda has ushered important changes in many parts of the world. The International Conference on Population and Development must indeed be applauded for having been the turning point that has shaped development policies and programmes.
Ladies and gentlemen, South Africa has done well in integrating ICPD goals into the national health programme through the ICPD Program of Action. The national population policy (1988) attests to this. As compared to other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Africa has been more successful in improving health indicators with a low total fertility rate of 3.1, low infant mortality of 41 deaths per 1 000 live births, and a high proportion deliveries, 93.4 percent in urban areas and 75, 5 percent in rural areas, taking place with the assistance of skilled birth attendants. I can confidently and proudly say there is a lot that we can share with our neighbouring countries in this respect. We can acknowledge that in its short life, democratic South Africa has achieved significant milestones towards improving the status of women
Ladies and gentlemen
The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (1996) contains a Bill of Rights that enshrines freedom and security of a person. Hence the right to bodily and psychological integrity includes the right to make decisions concerning reproduction. In keeping up with the Cairo Consensus, the South African Population Policy (adopted in 1998) shifted from the conventional family planning methods to place population within the development paradigm. This is in view of the fact that population and development are inextricably linked and that empowering women and meeting people's needs for education and health, including reproductive health, are necessary for both individual advancement and sustainable development.
At the core of the population policy is gender equality, HIV and AIDS and reproductive health, with a specific focus on improving the status of rural women and adolescents with regard to reproductive health.
You will agree with me that the health and wellbeing of mothers and their children is inextricably linked. There is also strong consensus that maternal health, newborn and child health programmes will only be effective if there is a continuum of care from pregnancy and childbirth through to childhood. Up to 40 percent of child deaths are in the neonatal period and nearly three quarters of these could be prevented if women were adequately nourished and received appropriate care during pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period.
For women to be productive and participate in the country’s social, economic and political processes, their rights need to be fully protected by law. It is only when women are healthy and empowered that they can raise and educate healthy children. These are the building blocks of stable societies and growing economies, and imperative in their own right. Therefore in this time of economic uncertainty there is no better economic stimulus than to invest in women. For us to do this, we must commit to three core actions for the coming years:
* Implement comprehensive health services, which include family planning; skilled care during pregnancy, delivery and postpartum; access to safe abortion; prevention, care, and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, including HIV
* Strengthen health systems to ensure equitable access to these services and provide health information and sexuality education, particularly for the largest-ever generation of adolescents
* Invest in policies, programs and systems actions that give women and girls access to economic resources, skills training, and social support and that protect their right to have control over and decide freely and responsibly on matters related to their sexuality, including sexual and reproductive health, free of coercion, discrimination and violence.
Ladies and gentlemen
The question that is often raised is, “how do investments in reproductive health, education and gender equality reduce poverty?” Enabling people to have fewer children contributes to higher shared income among fewer people. Fewer pregnancies lead to lower maternal illness, improved child survival and often to more education and economic opportunities for women. Families with fewer children are also better able to invest in the health and education of each child.
In 2008, government led by the Department of Social Development, embarked on a ten-year review the Population Policy as well as simultaneous review of the ICPD + 15. The review reports showed that we have made remarkable progress in achieving both the objectives of the ICPD programme of action and the population policy. Most importantly, the review showed that we are well within the reach of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) targets.
On the political front, South Africa has made great strides. Women make up more than a third of the current parliamentarians, and close to 50 percent of them are Cabinet Ministers. Currently South Africa’s is ranked 10th out of 130 Parliaments in the world in terms of women’s advancement in governance. Tackling poverty and achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and other internationally agreed development goals can only be met when the untapped potential of women in eradicating extreme poverty is recognised and supported.
One of the challenges facing South Africa today is the plight of young people. We therefore applaud our government for establishing the National Youth Development Agency. This will ensure that that young people are positively engaged in the process of national development. Through a multi-sectoral approach, particular attention needs to be devoted to initiatives that recognize reproductive and sexual health issues as one aspect of personal development, with links to a range of other developmental imperatives such as education/skills development, gainful employment and participation in decision-making.
As we meet here today, many of you are well aware of the economic downturn, which has affected the world financial markets, both big and small. No country has remained unscathed. As I speak some countries, South Africa included, are officially in recession. On the social development front, there can be no doubt that we are faced with formidable challenges- falling trade, reduced income, and rising unemployment. There is growing concern that the financial crisis, if not managed well, will become a developmental crisis and creates political instability that will also spill across borders.
The financial crisis is now threatening to reverse our hard won progress in improving health and reducing poverty. Women and girls suffer disproportionately during times of economic crisis. Therefore we need to protect them by strengthening the social protection and investment measures, especially in reproductive health, a key factor in women‘s participation in economic development.
Ladies and gentlemen
Gender equality is a major component of development. I therefore hope that from today onward, government and all sectors of society will put their efforts together to address the social dimensions of gender equality and empowerment of women in all aspects of their lives. The first step is to recognise that gender equality is a basic human right. Men must share the responsibility to break down the social barriers that prevent the realisation of this right.
Tackling poverty and achieving the Millennium Development Goals and other internationally agreed development goals can only be met when the untapped potential of women in eradicating extreme poverty is recognised and supported. By assisting women to earn a decent income, we will help keep children in school and improve household food security. Action now to protect women in our country could set the stage not only for economic recovery, but also for economic growth, a good investment in troubled times.
Thank you.
Enquiries:
Zanele Mngadi
Cell: 082 330 1148
Issued by: Department of Social Development
11 July 2009
