I am very excited to be with you this morning and be part of this biggest ever women magazine event. On behalf of government and the Ministry for Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities, I would like to express our full support for this event as it covers many elements of our lives as women, and as black women in particular.
It actually reminded of a great song released in the 1970s by Helen Reddy. Many of you might know various version or remixes of it, but it is entitled: I am woman. The song goes like:
I am woman, hear me roar
In numbers too big to ignore
And I know too much to go back an' pretend
'cause I've heard it all before
And I've been down there on the floor
No one's ever gonna keep me down again
This is what this event says to us today. It inspires all of us to roar in numbers too big to ignore and not to allow anyone to keep us down.
There are still many challenges facing women. At many workplaces, we have to perform twice as hard as men to prove ourselves. Hence we remain severely underrepresented in leadership positions at work and even in unions and other organisations where we constitute the majority of members.
In addressing that situation, the Ministry for Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities is coming up with the Gender Equality Bill which will empower all of us by promoting gender equality in various spheres of our lives. I hope you will support this bill when it comes out for public comments and use your life experience to make inputs and strengthen it.
Helen Reddy’s song goes on to say:
Oh yes I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to, I can do anything
I am strong
I am invincible
I am woman
Ladies and gentlemen, many women still experience much pain. We talk of talk of breast or cervical cancer, complications of pregnancy and even death during or as a result of delivery. Some young girls have to skip school every month, not because of their liking, but because they do not have sanitary towels. Many women and girls face abuse and exposure to diseases such as HIV and AIDS. We read every day of cases of rape and murder of children, women and even grandmothers.
Through our oversight role, the ministry is to hold accountable every department that is supposed to deliver services that make life better for women. We will be having a National Women’s Conference from 28 to 31 October where amongst other things we will be discussing with women the measures that are being taken to guarantee that these services are delivered women and do not fall below other priorities.
As the ministry, we are also responding directly to problems such as the abuse of women and children. Next month we will be conducting once again, the 16 Days of Activism Campaign on No Violence Against Women and Children. I hope you will all support this campaign that is aimed at mobilising the whole of our society to address the problem of violence. It is our right as women to walk the streets of our country with no fear of being attacked.
Let us celebrate this wonderful day. Let us pamper ourselves and learn from all the activities that are happening today. Whether it is beauty makeover or cooking tips you are looking; whether its fashion or music; it is all here for you today.
I hope this is the beginning of many things to come and as the Ministry for Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities, we are committed to work with Thought24 and other partners involved to make this event a success today and in future. As Helen Reddy sings:
I am woman watch me grow
See me standing toe to toe
As I spread my lovin' arms across the land
But I'm still an embryo
With a long, long way to go
Until I make my brother understand
Thank you very much for your attention and enjoy the day.
Source: Department of Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities
