South Africa has reaffirmed its longstanding commitment to the full implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (Beijing+30), which commits to ensuring gender equality and women’s empowerment worldwide.
Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, delivered the Country Statement at the 69th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69), currently underway at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
In her address on Tuesday, Chikunga emphasised the critical issues outlined in South Africa’s National Review of progress made in implementing the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
The country’s statement lays bare South Africa’s commitment to expedite the full realisation of the Beijing+30 agenda.
“From the onset, South Africa reaffirmed its longstanding commitment to the full, effective and accelerated implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. We pledge our support and congratulate the commission on the unanimous adoption of the political declaration yesterday.
“We recognise these as transformative blueprints for a future that will be just, equitable, sustainable and collectively prosperous. Moreover, we align ourselves with the statements delivered on behalf of the African Group, the Group of 77 plus China, as well as the Southern African Development Community (SADC),” Chikunga said.
Gender equality and women empowerment, the Minister said, are fundamental constitutional imperatives enshrined in Section 9 of South Africa’s Constitution, with the Bill of Rights embracing a restorative approach to gender equality.
Key achievements
The Minister highlighted some of the country’s achievements in areas such as women representation, judiciary, higher education and social protection.
Women’s representation: South African women now make up 43.5% of the Parliament, a significant increase from 28% in 1994. Women also hold 43% of the Executive positions, compared to only three women in 1994.
Judiciary: As of February 2023, 45% of South Africa's 253 judges are women, up from only two women judges in 1994. Notably, South Africa appointed its first-ever female Chief Justice and Head of the Constitutional Court, the country's highest judicial authority, in 2024.
Higher education: South Africa has surpassed gender parity in higher education, with over 60% of graduates from colleges and universities being women. The country is now prioritising increasing women representation in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), as well as in Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies.
Social protection: Over the past three decades, South Africa has built one of the most comprehensive social protection systems in the developing world, providing critical support through social grants that lift millions of women and girls out of poverty.
The Minister further highlighted South Africa’s commitment to combat gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), noting the National Council Act on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, which was recently signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa. It underscores South Africa’s whole-of-society effort to prevent, eliminate and respond to violence against all women and girls in public and private spaces, including online and offline.
South Africa has also completed a national GBVF prevalence study to ensure that the current and future interventions are evidence-based on sound scientific evidence.
Through its leadership role in the G20 Ministerial Working Group on the Empowerment of Women, the Minister said South Africa is shining the spotlight on the care economy, promoting financial inclusion through preferential public procurement for women-owned enterprises, and ensuring that women have access to land, productive assets and economic opportunities.
Despite the significant progress made, the Minister acknowledged that much more needs to be done.
“No democratic world or State can claim freedom unless women have been emancipated from all forms of oppression. Women and girls will be free and this is our commitment,” Chikunga said.
The 69th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) takes place from 10 to 21 March 2025. – SAnews.gov.za
