Programme director
MEC for Social Services and Population Development, Mr Alvin Botes
Representatives of Government and Civil Society
Representatives of the private sector
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
We are gathered here to join the international community in observing an important day of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), world population day, though belatedly.
This day is particularly important for us a nation and as a developing country because it enable us to focus attention on the urgency and importance of population issues, mainly in the context of overall development plans and programmes, and the need to find permanent and lasting solutions for these issues.
Government’s all over the world need to be able to gather information about, track and analyze population trends in order to create and manage sound policies and generate the political will to appropriately address both current and future needs.
According to a policy decision that was taken at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) that was held in Cairo, Egypt in 1994, affirmed that the population policy rests on two pillars.
Firstly, it requires that population factors be integrated systematically into all policies, plans, programmes and strategies that are aimed at enhancing the quality of life of the people at all levels and within all sectors and institutions of government and society as a whole.
Secondly, it promotes a co-ordinated, multi-sectoral, interdisciplinary and integrated approach in designing and implementing programmes and interventions that impact on population concerns.
Some of the population concerns are:
* a poor knowledge base on development relationships
* the limited use of population data in formulating, implementing, monitoring and evaluating plans and programmes for the population
* lack of adequate investments to meet the needs of women and the growing number of elderly persons
* the reduced human development potential because of the high incidence of unplanned and unwanted pregnancies
* high rates of infant maternal mortality, linked to high risk child bearing
* The rising incidence of sexually transmitted diseases, (STDs) especially HIV and AIDS, and the projected socio-economic impact of HIV and AIDS including the rise in child-headed households
* high levels of unemployment and poverty and the consequential moral degeneration.
In our quest to build a just and equitable society and our goal of a developmental state, it is thus important for us to respond in a comprehensive manner that will address the needs and aspirations of all the sectors of our society especially the most vulnerable sector of our society that is your women and children.
Today, as we commemorate World Population Day, the global financial and economic crisis threatens to reverse hard-won gains in education and health in developing countries. Among those hardest hit are women and girls. This is why the theme of this year’s World Population Day focuses on investing in women as a smart choice. Even before the crisis, women and girls represented the majority of the world’s poor. Now they are falling deeper into poverty and face increased health risks, especially if they are pregnant.
Access to reproductive health, in particular family planning and maternal health services, helps women and girls avoid unwanted or early pregnancy, unsafe abortions, as well as pregnancy related disabilities. This means that women stay healthier, are more productive, and have more opportunities for education, training and employment, which, in turn, benefits entire families, communities and nations.
Despite the progress that we have made over the past 15 years of our democracy, most of our people are still living without fundamental freedoms of action and choice.Our communities continue to experience lack of adequate food and shelter, inadequate education and health services, suffer extreme vulnerability to ill health, economic dislocation, being exposed to ill-treatment by society.
The Development programme of the United Nations (UN) states that where poverty is extreme and unending, human rights are eroded, the natural resource base deteriorates, and the human dignity too often gives way to despair. Breaking the cycle of poverty is an integral part of development in every nation.
It is important for all partners in this development effort to pursue faster, sustainable growth strategies that favour the poor and down-trodden masses of our society. Proper planning will assist us to spend efficiently on social and economic development activities – avoiding waste and ensuring that the mechanisms for accountability are always in place.
As a result, the South African government has embarked on a vigorous programme called war on poverty, to tackle the twin challenges of poverty and underdevelopment to confront and eradicate poverty. We have identified 500 of the most deprived and needy households in the province with the aim to provide social assistance and gradually improve their sustainable livelihoods until such time that they are able to become self reliant.
Programme director,
The economic global crisis has affected all the countries in the world severely and our country is no exception to that economic downturn. In ways to continue the midst of the worst global economic crisis in generations, we must find the most effective progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). We do know that women and children in developing countries are bearing the brunt of the impact. What started as a financial crisis in rich countries is now deepening into a global economic crisis that is hitting developing countries hard. It is already affecting progress toward reducing poverty.
Policy responses that build on women’s roles as economic agents can do a lot to alleviate the effects of the crisis on development, especially because women, more than men, invest their earnings in the health and education of their children. Investment in public health, education, child care and other social services help mitigate the impact of the crisis on the entire family and raise productivity for a healthier economy.
All too often, women have not been included in either the planning or implementation of development in general. Thus development has always undermined the role, status and position of women in society as it has a complete different impact than it has on men. Our approach as government is that the focus should be on incorporating women into the development agenda of government and society in general as well as into various programmes and projects nation-wide. This approach not only seeks the inclusion of women in development programmes but questions what development needs to achieve to enhance women’s equality in society.
Our government recognised the right of women as human rights, and will work hard to ensure that we improve the lives and wellbeing of women in all spheres of society.
Ladies and gentlemen, we will ensure the integration of women in all developmental programmes that will make them important economic actors in their societies and, as a result, women’s work within and outside the household or in the private and public domain becomes central to the maintenance of society.
Investing in women and girls will set the stage not only for economic recovery, but also for long-term economic growth that reduces inequity and poverty. There is no smarter investment in troubled times.
As we will be celebrating women’s month next month, it will not only be about raising awareness on women’s issues but to vigorously mobilise women in a united action to join the national effort in accelerating service delivery to all our people especially, women and children. We will encourage women to seize the opportunities that our democracy offers to lift themselves out of poverty and contribute towards the development of our society.
Ours is to ensure through the commemoration of women’s month and such related activities we open opportunities that will make us as a nation have:
* women that are actively participating in the social, political and economic development of our country
* women that will take an active part in enhancing accelerated sustainable socio-economic development for a better life for all
* women that will always uphold the rights of, and assist and empower the most vulnerable sectors like people with disabilities and older persons.
* women that will work towards turning the tide and build a people's contract to strengthen families and communities for a better life for our children.
I thank you.
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Northern Cape Provincial Government
11 July 2009
Source: Northern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.northern-cape.gov.za/index.php)
