Pretoria - Government will step up its efforts to ensure increased participation of women in South Africa's economy.
"There is no doubt that policy response that builds on women's roles as economic agents can do a lot to mitigate the effects of the crisis on development," said Social Development Deputy Minister Bathabile Dlamini.
Speaking at an event to commemorate the World Population Day on Friday, Ms Dlamini said government has put in place mechanisms to ensure that women were integrally involved and targeted in the design and implementation of economic empowerment and development initiatives.
She further said sexual and reproductive rights have become a central part in government's policy development.
In 1994, the world's population of 5.6 billion was growing at 93 million per year, but today the growth is 77 million per year, 17 percent slower.
"The quality of life in general has improved substantially in the world and we can proudly say that the Cairo Agenda has ushered important changes in many parts of the world," said Ms Dlamini.
She said South Africa has done well in integrating the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) goals into the national health programme through the ICPD Program of Action.
As compared to other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Africa has been more successful in improving health indicators with a low total fertility rate of 3.1 and low infant mortality of 41 deaths per 1 000 lives.
There was also strong consensus that maternal health, newborn and child health programmes would only be effective if there is a continuum of care from pregnancy and childbirth through to childhood.
"Up to 40 percent of child deaths are in the neonatal period and nearly three quarters of these could be prevented if women were adequately nourished and received appropriate care during pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period," said the deputy minister.
For women to be productive and participate in the country's social, economic and political processes, their rights need to be fully protected by law.
"It is only when women are healthy and empowered that they can raise and educate healthy children.
"These are the building blocks of stable societies and growing economies, and imperative in their own right," she said.
Tackling poverty and achieving the Millennium Development Goals and other internationally agreed development goals can only be met when the untapped potential of women in eradicating extreme poverty is recognised and supported.
"By assisting women to earn a decent income, we will help keep children in school and improve household food security," she said.
