Chairperson, each year Women's Day is celebrated globally on 8 March. This year we proudly support the theme "Empower Rural Women - End Hunger and Poverty". Women are the cornerstones of families and communities. They are our caregivers. They are our mothers, aunts, sisters and daughters. They are often breadwinners or sole providers.
On the African continent, women contribute more than 70% of the total food production. They plough the land and raise the livestock. Strong and caring, resolute and determined, these are the images of women in even the most destitute areas of our country. Natural disasters and climate change often have the worst and greatest impact on women. They are the first to go hungry in order to provide for their children. They are the first to go cold through many winter nights in order to keep their children warm.
Women play a very important role in agriculture and rural development yet remain one of the most vulnerable groups in the society. It is sad to know that almost three years ago, the Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities was established with the mandate to facilitate the advancement, empowerment and socioeconomic development of vulnerable people, including women. To date, this department has done very little to improve the plight of vulnerable women.
Volhoubare ontwikkeling kan slegs bereik word mits vroue op gepaste maniere bemagtig word. Vroue se begrip van hul omgewing en die probleme wat daarmee gepaard gaan, is uniek en moet ingespan word ten bate van hul gemeenskappe. Die eerste stap om dit te doen, sou wees om landelike vroue te bemagtig deur hulle as instrumente te gebruik in die oorlog teen hongersnood en armoede. Die beste opsie sou wees om vroue in die landbousektor op te neem en op te lei. Ons Grondwet waarborg universele menseregte en is geskoei op die beginsels van menswaardigheid, gelykheid en vryheid. Ons het dus 'n verantwoordelikheid teenoor ons moeders, susters, tannies en dogters om hul regte te beskerm en te bevorder. [Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Sustainable development can only be achieved if women are empowered in appropriate ways. Women's understanding of their environment and the problems coupled with it are unique and has to be utilised to the benefit of their communities. The first step to achieve this would be to empower rural women by using them as instruments in the war against starvation and poverty. The best option would be for women to be taken up in the agricultural sector and to train them. Our Constitution guarantees universal human rights and is based on the principles of human dignity, equality and freedom. We thus have a responsibility towards our mothers, sisters, aunts and daughters to protect and promote their rights. [Applause.]]