Celebrating Women's Day: Parliament reflects on the legacy of the 1956 Women's March
Image: Independent Media Archives
In commemoration of Women's Day, National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza and National Council of Provinces Chairperson Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane pay tribute to the resilience and leadership of South African women. Their honour acknowledges the ongoing fight for justice, equality, and dignity.
This year marks the 69th anniversary of the historic 1956 Women's March, when 20,000 women of all races defied the apartheid regime's oppressive pass laws. This was a defining moment in the history of South Africa's liberation struggle.
The month of August is commonly known as South Africa Women's Month.
This year, Women's Day coincides with South Africa preparing to host the first P20 Speakers' Summit. The P20 is a high-level gathering of Speakers and Presiding Officers from G20 member countries.
Women's leadership, economic empowerment and gender-responsive budgeting are at the centre of the African agenda for the P20 Summit.
The Presiding Officers said as part of the build-up to the global summit, Parliament canvassed the views of African women legislators through consultations held in collaboration with the Pan-African Parliament in Midrand on July 25.
'The consultations emphasised the need for African parliaments to strengthen collaboration in tackling gender-based violence, advancing reproductive health rights and ensuring equal access to education and economic opportunities. These recommendations will inform South Africa's input to the P20 and signal a united African voice advocating for gender equality as a cornerstone of the G20's policy outcomes,' the Presiding Officers said.
Parliament will convene the P20 Women's Parliament in August. This will provide a dedicated platform to elevate the voices of women, particularly young women and girls from marginalised communities.
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The forum will foster inclusive dialogue between public representatives, civil society, academia, and government to surface gender-based concerns and shape Parliament's contribution to the G20 agenda through a gender-responsive lens.
'This is a critical opportunity to influence the global discourse and ensure that women's voices actively shape decisions that affect their lives,' the Presiding Officers said.
Parliament said while South Africa has made notable progress in entrenching the rights of women through constitutional guarantees, progressive legislation and policies grounded in equality, the lived reality for many women across the country, and the African continent, remains starkly different. African women, in particular, continue to face deep-rooted inequalities, including poverty, economic exclusion, gender-based violence, and systemic sexism.
It said Parliament remains steadfast in its commitment to addressing these disparities. Through its legislative and oversight work, it continues to prioritise gender equality and the advancement of women's rights.
'We are committed to creating inclusive platforms that enable women to articulate their challenges, influence policymaking and make meaningful contributions to national and global development.
'As we observe this important day, we must remember the countless women and girls who have lost their lives to gender-based violence – often at the hands of those meant to protect them. We condemn these heinous acts in the strongest possible terms. Let us be reminded that gender equality is not just a women's issue, but a collective societal responsibility and essential for peace, justice, prosperity and sustainable development,' the Presiding Officers said.
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