Madam Chairperson, hon members, 8 March 2011 marked the 100th anniversary of the celebration of International Women's Day. This milestone presents us with a rare opportunity to reflect on the ground we have covered thus far regarding the current status of women, first and foremost as citizens of the world, and then of our country.
We ought to establish if, as a country, we have taken good enough strides to further the causes of women in general, and on gender equity in particular. As a country, we have done well to dispel old and appalling social conventions about the role of women being in the kitchen.
Our observance of the rights of women, as outlined in the Constitution, is an essential starting point for paving the women's path to decent work. Indeed, our struggle for liberation would not have succeeded without the monumental role played by women.
However, today, as we reflect on these successes and failures, we ought to be mindful of the ever-changing global needs that demand a different set of skills for one to survive.
In our celebrations of International Women's Day, we must consider the millions of women across the world and South Africa who live in abject penury, with no access to education. We must think about the many women, both young and old, who, as early as the age of 13, were forced into arranged marriages to serve the pleasures of men. They are still seen as inferior to their dominant male counterparts.
We must double our efforts to increase the number of young girls and women who have access to education as a priority. While women are in the majority in South Africa, not enough is being done to address their underrepresentation in fields such as science and technology. Government needs to create incentives such as bursaries, learnerships, etc, for young girls and women who wish to pursue studies in science and technology.
Today, we must also evaluate those areas in which we fail. Among the victims of crime, especially of sexual and domestic violence, women are in the majority. In a whole range of social problems, women constitute the majority of sufferers. On the question of poverty and unemployment, it is once again women who make up a disproportional section of those affected. As a society, our failure to address these issues is an indictment. The struggle to establish democracy would not have succeeded without the support of women, and would have lacked credibility if it was not explicitly aimed at achieving a nonsexist society. Therefore, we are morally and legally obliged to pursue gender equality. Thank you, hon Chairperson. [Time expired.] [Applause.]