South Africa: Women March for Equal Representation in Govt

December 5, 2007 – (AllAfrica) Hundreds of women brought traffic in the capital to a standstill on Wednesday as they marched to the Union Buildings to hand over a memorandum demanding an equal gender representation in all state sectors.

The memorandum was accepted by Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad on behalf of President Thabo Mbeki. Addressing the crowd, Minister of Communications Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri acknowledged that South Africa has done a great deal regarding the equality of women.

She said the 50-50 women equality campaign is a long struggle which needs to be won, adding that the campaign is not only for South Africans but for all African countries.

The campaign aims to get a 50 percent representivity of both men and women in all government structures.

"Let's work collectively and confront hierarchy, no compromise and no going back," said Dr Casaburri. The minister also acknowledged government's efforts in addressing inequality in Parliament.

"We have now got more women in Parliament including provincial legislatures and we have set up a national gender framework and passed laws that look at vulnerable groups," said Dr Casaburri.

Encouraging women to take a stand against women abuse, the minister said they needed to play a role in uprooting violence as their children could do the same in turn. "Don't allow your sons to abuse their wives, respect your women and socialise your sons to do the same."

Echoing Dr Casaburri's sentiments for equal representation in Parliament, the Deputy Minister for the Department of Provincial Local Government Nomatyala Hangana said women had to demand a 50 percent representation and nothing less.

Minister Pahad challenged opposition parties to ensure there was a 50 percent representivity of women in their leadership.

"All civil societies, institutions, private sectors and other political parties should demand 50-50 [representivity] in leadership, 50-50 is our slogan," said Mr Pahad.

Turning to the issue of women abuse, Mr Pahad said the march was also part of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign.

"When a woman says no, she means no, her body belongs to her and nobody else, I don't know how any man in South Africa can think he's liberated while the woman is not liberated," said Minister Pahad.

In the memorandum the women recognised the need to take bold, urgent and significant steps to accelerate and achieve gender equality in theory and practice.

They also recognised the efforts and strides by government in developing and implementing policies and laws that seek to promote and protect the rights of women and children.

 

From:http://allafrica.com/stories/200712050906.html