Today we stand proud of the South African women and the women across the globe who took up the fight for gender equality and freedom more than 100 years ago. Their struggle was not in vain. They remain an inspiration to all of us. They inspired various generations of women leaders, including Ida Mtwana, Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Sophia de Bruyn, Rahima Moosa, Frances Baard, Mmadinoge Kgoloko, Dorothy Nyembe, Albertina Sisulu, Adelaide Tambo, Ray Alexandra, Dulcie September and Winnie Mandela, among many others. Today we salute all these women for their sacrifice and dedication to the struggle for a nonracial, nonsexist and democratic society. Indeed, they are our heroines, and they opened the doors for many of us.