gender perspectives of the financial crisis
9 March 2009
The current financial crisis presents an opportunity to make significant
structural changes in the global development architecture and for countries to
integrate gender equality in its agenda. This is the general view being
presented to the 53rd session of the United Nations Commission on the status of
women being held in New York from 2 to 13 March.
Worst affected are the African countries, whose economies were just
beginning to recover from economic depressions of the 1980s and 1990s, when the
structural adjustment policies were administered. The South African delegation
being led by the Minister in the Presidency Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang
presented to the session that South Africa is also feeling the pain of the
unfolding financial crisis as an active participant in the global world.
The country is currently experiencing contraction of our economy with job
losses that have an impact on food security and livelihoods of our vulnerable
citizens in general, affecting particularly remittances to the poor rural
areas.
"We however appreciate the advantage of the fiscal discipline and economic
governance by our government that affords us some level of resilience, as well
as the efforts to mitigate the potential impact of the crisis together with
business and labour," said a South African delegate, Ms Vuyo Mahlati.
The delegation illustrated that womenâs concern were about the implications
of the crisis as it pertains to the following:
* The absence of womenâs voice around the table in critical forums for
strategic decision-making. World Economic Forumâs annual meeting with only five
percent of the two and a half thousand people who attended being women.
* The macro-economic framework and the emerging stimulus packages that seem to
perpetuate inequalities.
* Commitments to Official Development Assistance (ODA).
* Potential social sector budget cuts with increasing burden of care on women
and girls.
* Interconnectedness of local responses and system reform with global
reform.
The South African delegation also called for the following:
* Global architectural reform that centralises gender equality and women
empowerment.
* Stimulus packages and support that consider the balance between social,
economic and environmental aspects.
* Increased participation of women in decision-making at local and global
platforms including the forthcoming discussions at G20 economic summit 2 April
2009 in London.
* Addressing the gender perspective of the financial crisis requires a paradigm
shift with women at the centre towards equality and sustainability.
The delegation stated that South Africa needed to confront and define the
underlying causes of the financial crises to find the right and sustainable
solutions.
Enquiries:
Charity Bhengu
Cell: 083 679 7424
Issued by: The Presidency
9 March 2009
Source: The Presidency (http://www.thepresidency.gov.za/)
