09 Aug 2008: ISS Feature: Celebrating Women`s Day 2008

Celebrating Women`s Day in South Africa

 

South Africa celebrates Women’s Day on the 9th of August each year. This is the day, in 1956, that women marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria against the pass laws.  It is therefore a day in which we remember the struggles that women have endured to occupy their rightful place in society and one in which we celebrate their achievements in this regard.

 

South African women have made substantial progress in obtaining gender equity. Their rights are enshrined in the Constitution, the Employment Equity Act seeks to advance women and South Africa is a signatory to many gender instruments, internationally, continentally and regionally, that seek to create gender parity (see some of these instruments below). The South African government has set up mechanisms to facilitate the implementation of these instruments, for example, The Commission on Gender Equality, the Office of the Status of Women located in the presidency, and gender focal points.

 

Gender representation in South Africa has advanced significantly since 1994. In parliament, 33% of the MP’s are women. In cabinet we have many women who occupy non-stereotypical positions, for example, the Minister of Foreign Affairs is woman. Even our deputy president is a woman. Women can also be seen in prominent positions in the business sector and the security sector. Gender mainstreaming is a guiding principle for all our policies and practices. Indeed, then, South Africa is held as a model for addressing the gender question in Africa.

 

Yet, the struggle is far from over. It is one thing to change legislation, quite another to change culture. The patriarchal culture is still entrenched within our society and is most often manifested within the domestic realm. Gender based violence, despite the legal frameworks, has been on the increase and South Africa now records one of the highest rape statistics in the world – at close on to 55 000 a year (an we know that only one in 20 rapes are recorded making the figure much higher). South Africa also has one of the highest unemployment rates in the world. The majority of those who are unemployed would be women, thus the face of poverty remains a female one.

 

Further a field, in many countries in the region, women have not obtained the 30% agreed upon quota for representation. Conflict remains profoundly gendered and the implementation of UN resolution 1325 leaves much to be desired. We have a duty to ensure that all women enjoy the same rights.

 

So, as we celebrate our achievements we must be cogniscant of the efforts that have gone into gaining the rights and the struggle that is still needed in the quest for gender parity. It is a struggle not just for women but one in which all in the society need to be engaged in.

 

HAPPY WOMEN”S DAY!
REMEMBER AND ENJOY

 

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