Chairperson, hon Ministers and hon members, patriarchal domination is deeply entrenched throughout the fabric of society across the globe.
Allow me to remind everybody of what was said by the United Nations Deputy Secretary General in the foreword of the United Nations Handbook for Legislation on Violence Against Women, and I quote:
Across the world - in rich and poor countries alike - women are being beaten, trafficked, raped and killed. These human rights abuses not only inflict great harm and suffering on individuals - they tear at the fabric of entire society.
The horrific incidents of the past few months have brought the reality of the above words closer to home. These incidents are partly an expression of a deeper and historic underlying problem; namely, patriarchy. The ANC reiterates what it said in 1992 in the Guidelines for a Democratic Society, which says:
Women should be able to walk in the streets freely without fear of assault and should be able to feel safe and be free from violence in their own homes.
Patriarchy refers to the dominance of men over women in society. This dominance is usually supported by reference to culture. Often cultural practices which are used to support patriarchy undermine gender equality. Gender inequality is inconsistent with the essence of democracy.
The struggle against patriarchy is essentially a struggle for a fully democratic society. The project of a national democratic society will never be fully realised as long as gender inequality prevails. The main intent of the national democratic revolution is the upliftment of all South Africans, especially the poor people, the majority of whom are Africans, particularly females.
This struggle requires that women should work across party lines and that they push women's issues to the centre of any campaign or dialogue, as was correctly observed by the ANC Women's League president in the period leading to preparations for the 53rd National Conference of the ANC. Of course, that is how we know her; she is not that thing that has been mentioned here.
In this regard, it is important that the progressive women's coalitions should not marginalise the gender agenda by being stand-alone formations built outside the existing campaign programmes. This will create the danger of women's issues being sidelined.
But even if women work together in coalitions, they should remember that the majority of women still suffer from the actual reality and legacy of "triple oppression". These women are oppressed by capitalism and patriarchy, and are enduring raised patterns of economic activity. In white households and on white-owned farms, it is often women who are still forced to do the least-paying jobs. That is a fact.
From the aforemetioned, it is evident that a comprehensive strategy is required to fight against patriarchy, and such a strategy is expressed in a policy called "South Africa's National Policy Framework for Women's Empowerment and Gender Equality". The policy includes the focus on reducing inequality faced by women based on sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, class and geographic location. It also includes the area focusing on eliminating the barriers that limit women's full participation in society and the economy as equals.
The ANC recognises the need to constantly evaluate the success or failure of its instruments, aimed at ending patriarchy. Thus, in its recent 53rd National Conference, the ANC conducted a far-reaching assessment to analyse current instruments, their relevance, strategies, areas of focus and programmes in matters of women, as well as the impact these programmes have made. This assessment should then advise on comprehensive recommendations on the form of content or whatever institutional mechanisms are to be put in place in pursuit of women's emancipation and broadly address gender matters.
Men and women need to work together to destroy the scourge of patriarchy in society because patriarchy is present everywhere in the structures and institutions of society. In trying to change these attitudes and practices, therefore, both women and men need to work in partnership all times, as succinctly as it was observed by the Deputy President of the country on the occasion of Women's Month in 2012.
As a society, we must all recommit to increased efforts to eradicate the oppression of women. We should do so fully aware that the scale of these challenges calls for broad mobilisation of our society and sustained momentum to bring about a new consciousness, especially within the socialising agencies such as families and schools, to underpin a new set of norms and values.
The ANC continues to engage society and all civil society stakeholders to canvass for change in society through the deployment of education campaigns, which must be conducted by all socialising agencies, including the family unit. The ANC calls upon all leaders to model the values and conduct which will inspire the boy-child to respect a woman's body, her dignity and discretion. The struggle against gender patriarchy and gender- based violence must also be addressed through the full deployment of transformative legislation.
In this regard, the ruling party reiterates what it said on 27 February 1994, when it approved the Women's Charter for Effective Equality. The ANC expressed then, as it does now, "... equality in the development, application, adjudication, interpretation and enforcement of the law."
The ANC further said that:
Firstly, at all times the law shall promote and ensure the practical realisation of equality for women. Secondly, women shall have equal legal status and capacity in civil law, including, among others, full contractual rights, the right to acquire and hold rights in property, the right to equal inheritance and the right to secure credit. Thirdly, positive and practical measures shall be taken to ensure equality for women complainants in the criminal justice system. Fourthly, there shall be educational programmes to address gender bias and stereotypes, as well as to promote equality for women in the legal system. Lastly, women shall have equal representation and participation in all traditional courts, alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and local community courts.
In conclusion, I call upon men to sincerely commit themselves to the struggle against gender-based violence. As long as women are fearful of walking the streets of their free land, none of us can claim to be free.
The ANC's tradition of commitment to nonracialism is unparalleled in history. It is we, as members, who have to live according to the values of the ANC that are expressed in the declaration of the ANC's National Conference of July 1991, where the ANC declared that:
We reaffirm the ANC's nonsexist policy and commit ourselves to urgently develop a mechanism of addressing the serious challenges of women's emancipation in society at large, including our own ranks.
Thank you very much, hon Chairperson and hon members, for listening to me. This was my maiden speech. [Applause.]