Madam Chair, this day comes a few weeks after we had gathered here to listen to and absorb the state of the nation address. Not long ago, our country had the admiration of many countries for the progressive steps it has taken in order to emancipate women. But today I am not sure that we still do. I certainly do not feel that I am in a place committed to gender equality.
Being a woman still means being vulnerable here at home and elsewhere in the world. Every 90 seconds of every day, a woman dies in pregnancy or due to childbirth-related complications. The World Health Organisation reported that 358 000 women died during pregnancy and childbirth in 2008. Ninety per cent of that number comes from sub-Saharan Africa. Little or no resources have been channelled towards expanding birth control to males and, as such, the burden of birth control still rests primarily with the woman.
Globally, women are more likely to be jobless than men and bear the biggest brunt of poverty.
Today, here and elsewhere, boys are more likely to be at school than girls. Two out of three illiterate adults are women. In the entire world, there are only 28 women holding positions as head of state, and women only make up 19% of all legislatures.
More shocking to learn is that, as the rest of the world celebrated and commemorated International Woman's Day yesterday, Sudanese women activists were arrested and beaten by police as they protested that authorities cease violence against women. Can we therefore sit idly by and just commemorate the day? This suggests to me that we cannot afford to be idle and celebrate the progress made. [Time expired.]