Mr Speaker
Honourable members
It is encouraging that this august House has allocated this day for debate on International Women’s Day. We are demonstrating once again that our country, under the leadership of the African National Congress, is firmly committed to advancing the struggle for empowerment of women and gender equality.
South Africa is proud of its active participation in the global observation of the centenary of International Women’s Day under the theme: “Equal access to education and training science and technology: Pathway to decent work for women.”
Yesterday, women from all walks of life gathered at Galeshewe Stadium in Kimberly to be part of the national event to observe this great day in the history of the struggle for gender equality. Various provinces, civil society organisations and development partners have also organised activities to observe this day. Earlier today, the National Council of Provinces also held a debate on International Women’s Day.
Honourable Speaker, at the turn of the 20th century, large numbers of women in Europe and America were taking up employment as workers in various factories. Industrialisation exposed women to various forms of discrimination and exploitation. In 1908, thousands of women marched in New York demanding shorter working hours, better pay and voting rights. In subsequent years, these women observed women’s day on the last Sunday of February to mobilise for the advancement of their rights in United States.
The International Women’s Day was formally adopted in 1910 at the second International Conference of Working Women held in Copenhagen. Suggested by Clara Zetkin of the Social Democratic Party of Germany, the idea of an International Women’ s Day which should be used to press for the demands of women in every country was unanimously adopted.
Following this resolution, more than one million people participated in rallies to mark International Women’s Day in 1911 in countries such as Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. The demands at these rallies included women’s right to vote and to be elect into public office; the right to work and to be trained; and an end to discrimination.
On the eve of the First World War in 1913 to 1914, women in Russia and other parts of Europe used International Women’s Day to campaign against the war and to express women solidarity across nations. They campaigned for “Bread and Peace”. The strike by Russian women in response to high death toll during the war forced the Czar to abdicate power in 1917 and Russian women achieved the right to vote. Russian woman like Alexandria Kollontai successfully fought for women suffrage to be included in the socialist programme.
Since its birth within the socialist movement, International Women’s Day has grown stronger over the past 100 years, leading to this day being officially endorsed by the United Nations (UN) in 1977. This was after the UN had declared 1975 as International Women’s Year and 1976 to 1985 as a Decade for Women. The African Union has taken similar approach by declaring 2010 to 2020 as the African Women’s Decade with 10 thematic areas that member-state have to focus on. The theme for this year is Health, Maternal Mortality and HIV and AIDS. The decade should on the work done by Pan African Women’s Organisation (PAWO) which played a significant role in building African unity and solidarity among women during a crucial period in the struggle for political emancipation.
Mr Speaker, our own pioneer, Charlotte Maxeke was in United States of America studying for a bachelor of science degree which she attained in 1901 and returned to South Africa. She organised women and became the first President of the Bantu Women’s League, which was precursor to the ANC Women’s League. In 1913, she led women’s protests in the Free State, resisting attempts by government to impose passes on women. These women burnt passes in front of the municipal offices – a courageous act of defiance at the time when the white male only government of the Union of South Africa was consolidating its authority under Gen Louis Botha. Charlotte Maxeke was also instrumental in organising South African women’s participation in the International Women’s Day campaigns.
Today, we stand proud of the women of South Africa and women from across the globe who took up the fight for gender equality and freedom more than 100 years ago. They remain an inspiration to all of us.
They inspired various generations of women leaders including, Ida Mntwana, Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Sophia de Bruyn, Rahima Moosa, Frances Baard, Dorothy Nyembe, Albertina Sisulu, Adelaide Tambo, Ray Alexandra, Dulcie September, Winnie Mandela and many others. Today, we salute all these women for their sacrifice and dedication to the struggle for a non-racial, non-sexist and democratic society.
Mr Speaker, as reported at the 55th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women which ended in New York last week, many women remain in feminised sectors of the economy with a significant gender wage gap. There is a need to intensify efforts to increase the number of women in economic sectors such as science, engineering and technology as highlighted by the theme of International Women’s Day this year.
At this UN Session, South Africa was commended for the work done in education, health and social development, particularly programmes for girls in education, Techno Girls, Girls and Boys Education Movements, HIV and AIDS programme and social security for single women and children.
Mr Speaker, the statement by the UN Secretary General on International Women’s Day highlighted that violence against women and children remain one of the major challenges facing our society. In our country, we have put various pieces of legislation in place to protect women
Government has re-introduced the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) units in all 176 policing areas countrywide. These units ensure effective access to justice for women and girls. South Africa is also proud of the global best practice, the Thuthuzela Care Centres, which is recognised by the United Nations as an excellent model to provide comprehensive one-stop services for survivors of Gender-Based Violence. A number of countries have adopted these models at their national levels.
Mr Speaker, during this 100th year of International Women’s Day, we have also seen the launch of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women – UN Women. The establishment of UN Women demonstrates the intention to deepen the global agenda for gender equality and the empowerment of women. The appointment of Michelle Bachelet – a socialist, freedom fighter, gender activist and the first woman President of Chile – as the first Executive Director of UN Women gives us hope that the struggles of the women who fearlessly campaigned for “Bread and Peace” 100 years ago was not in vain but it will be further advanced.
Women of 1911 campaigned for the right to vote and to be voted into public office. 100 years on, women are campaigning for equal representation in political decision making positions.
On this front, South Africa has made significant progress with women currently constituting 44 percent of members of Parliament, 43 percent in Cabinet and 40 percent of councilors in the sphere of Local Government. It should be acknowledged though Honourable Speaker that these advances have mainly been due to the ruling party, the ANC, committing to the principle of 50/50 gender representation.
As we build towards the local government elections, we call on all political parties to play their role if they are serious about gender equality and empowerment of women. They cannot continue to use women as voting cows, while not including them in their candidate lists for elections.
The right to be elected into public office was the original demand of women at International Women’s Day one hundred years ago. It remains the fundamental right and demand of the women of South Africa today.
Malibongwe
