As the Third Technical Meeting of the G20 Empowerment of Women Working Group (EWWG) draws to a close, Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Steve Letsike has called for G20 members to transform commitments into lasting action.
Delivering closing remarks on Thursday, the Deputy Minister applauded the depth of deliberations held over the past days and called for greater accountability to drive tangible progress in the global pursuit of gender equality.
“This meeting has been a powerful space of shared purpose. We have engaged in thoughtful and sometimes difficult conversations, recognising that the path toward gender equality requires not only commitment, but concrete action and accountability.
“Through collective commitment and action, G20 members can make significant strides in promoting gender equality and achieving sustainable development,” Letsike said.
Framed around three interlinked priority areas - care economy, financial inclusion, and gender-based violence - the EWWG discussions drew attention to the complex and deeply rooted inequalities that continue to hinder the advancement of women and girls globally.
The Deputy Minister emphasised the economic and social significance of care work, both paid and unpaid, which is often overlooked, despite being “the backbone of our societies and economies”.
She highlighted the importance of elevating care work and ensuring decent wages and equitable conditions, underscoring that these are “not just gender issues but they are economic imperatives”.
On the issue of financial inclusion, Letsike welcomed the early outcomes under South Africa’s G20 Presidency, including a newly proposed action plan aimed at increasing access to financial tools and opportunities for women and girls.
“I am happy that we are beginning to see the tangibles that will emerge from the South African G20 Presidency. One of these is the action plan on financial inclusion, which starts to define the key strategic focus or pillars, action areas and initiatives that we could adopt as G20 members to drive financial inclusion.
“This action plan or framework will assist to ensure systemic reform, institutional accountability, and policy innovation grounded in lived realities and rigorous evidence,” the Deputy Minister said.
The meeting also took a firm stand on the global scourge of gender-based violence and femicide, calling for decisive action through prevention, protection and prosecution.
“No society can claim to be just or equal while women continue to live in fear, or worse, lose their lives simply because they are women.
“We reaffirmed the urgent need for prevention, protection and prosecution anchored in survivor-centred policies and a culture of zero tolerance,” Letsike stressed.
Policy briefs on the care economy and gender-based violence, along with global frameworks, such as the 5R [Recognise, Reduce, Redistribute, Represent and Reward unpaid and paid care work] and SIGI [Social Institutions and Gender Index], are expected to guide G20 members toward national policy development and implementation.
The Deputy Minister reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to a G20 approach built on consensus and inclusive growth, adding that the knowledge products generated during this technical meeting would contribute to the legacy of the country’s Presidency.
“The South African G20 Presidency is committed to the principles of G20 based on consensus, which is a cornerstone of our collective efforts. Through open dialogue and collaboration, we have reaffirmed our shared vision of a more inclusive and accessible world,” she said.
Looking ahead, the Ministerial Declaration resulting from these engagements will be presented to the Ministers for adoption in October 2025.
The gathering brought together senior government officials, G20 partners, civil society, academics, and international organisations strengthening global momentum toward a more just and equitable world for women and girls.
The closed sessions that took place on Wednesday and continues today focused on the global context of gender-based violence, emphasising the need for private sector engagement and legislation to protect women.
Key points included the criminalisation of certain behaviours, the creation of codes for daily access, and the importance of community-driven sustainability in health provisions.
The speakers also stressed the importance of international support, governance, and the need for a comprehensive approach to address gender-based violence effectively. – SAnews.gov.za
