By More Matshediso
Johannesburg - The African Union (AU) has been commended for consistently putting women at the heart of the development of Africa Agenda 2063, and declaring 2015 a year of women development and empowerment.
South African Minister in the Presidency for Women, Susan Shabangu, said the AU has also taken decisions that in 2020 all African Countries must have achieved equality in women representation in decision making and participation in the economy.
“Women have been acknowledged to change the development Agenda across the world… Access to funding is critical for the empowerment of women in the economy,” she said.
She was speaking during the official welcome address at a Gala Dinner held at the Sandton Convention Centre, in Johannesburg, on Friday.
The Minister hosted the Gala Dinner in celebration of African Women under the theme “2015 Year of Women’s Empowerment and Development towards Africa’s Agenda 2063”.
However, she criticised the criteria and funding institutions in Africa, saying they are not women friendly and they, in some cases, contribute intentionally to the marginalisation of women to shape and participate in the contribution of the economy.
“We want women to be included in the broader funding, and not in the limited small funds. The time is now for women to be fully integrated into the economic mainstream and financial inclusion,” she said.
Minister Shabangu said African women have gone a long way in the struggle for recognition, promotion and realisation of their rights.
The Minister called on African leaders to do more in including women in economic growth plans in their various countries.
“As long as women are not fully incorporated to the development strategy and decision making processes of their countries, as equal participants, their countries will operate at half capacity,” said Minister Shabangu.
She said inclusion of women in all economic sectors is essential for economic growth of Africa and creation of jobs. She said the struggle for emancipation of women remains urgent.
She said reports shows that women produce more than 80% of food in the continent but own roughly 1% of productive lands.
“We are of the view that if women had the same access to productive resources as men, they could contribute immensely to Africa’s economic growth and development.
“We cannot continue to limit women’s economic contribution to small and informal businesses. The time is now for women to be integrated in the mainstream economy. The empowerment of women is not an act of charity…” she said.
She said it must be ensured that the 25th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union put the issue of gender equality and women. She said the discussions held by delegates attending the summit in the past three days confirmed that they will succeed in a fight for gender equality to empower women.
The Minister called on civil society to join hands with government and business to assist in putting women in better positions in the Agro processing sector.
The Gala Dinner was attended by South African Ministers, AU Ministers of Gender and Women’s Affairs, Members of the AU Permanent Representative Committee, AU Commissioners, Representatives of the Diplomatic corps and International Organizations, delegates to the AU High Level Panel on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, Business and Researchers. - SAnews.gov.za
