House Chairperson, women are the first victims of any crisis and face tremendous challenges. Yet they have the required patience as they demonstrate complete determination, marching forward trying to change their hopes into reality and their desires into magnificent joy and overwhelming success. The MF strongly believes that government must develop specific policies, including relief in income tax, engagement of self-help groups and microfinance to show positive results in the advancement of women.
The UN Charter signed in 1945 was the first international agreement to have formed the purposes of equality between men and women. Sonia Gandhi said: "Women should understand that daughters and sons were equal in every aspect and should be given equal opportunities." The notion that rural women should stick to the home and are politically inept is an inaccurate assessment. The mobilisation of women throughout the global arena is crucial for meaningful change and the centred struggle for equality, peace and development. However, 70% of the world's poor live in rural areas, and 70% of the world's poor are women. No segment of rural society experiences the burden of rural poverty and hunger like rural women do.
If we are serious about achieving sustainable development, peace, security and full respect for human rights, the empowerment of women must be a central feature for South Africa to help address social, economic and political challenges across the world. Women will continue to endure hardship in every facet of life unless we reach consensus that the eradication of their challenges is a national priority. Measures to address these challenges should be formulated and implemented in consultation with rural women until victory is achieved, delivering all women from poverty and hunger.
The MF notes that women throughout the world have demonstrated great passion in the service of their country and community, even juggling the demands of career and family. In doing so, women provide the much needed social glue that bonds families and countries together. They make a boundless contribution to the world and this is likely to continue and accelerate. [Time expired.] [Applause.]