SA joins world in gender equality talks

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Pretoria - The South African delegation will use the 54th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women to share the country's best practices and learn from other countries' innovations regarding gender equality.

The meeting, which will take place in New York from 1 to 12 March, will focus on economic empowerment and challenges faced by women worldwide.

South Africa will be sending a top level delegation to represent the country at the meeting to review progress in improving the status of women.

Briefing the media on Thursday, Minister for Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities, Noluthando Mayende-Sibiya said the meeting will review the implementation of the Platform for Action, provide an opportunity for the sharing of experience and best practices.

"It will discuss the measures for shaping a gender perspective towards the full realisation of the MDGs and its linkage with the Beijing Platform for Action."

She said the delegation will share their stories of progress, including significant legislative reforms that facilitate gender equity and improved representation of women in political decision making positions.

The latest Global Gender Gap Report of the World Economic Forum states that when it comes to women's equality, South Africa is a more equal society than any other country in Africa.