Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Mmapaseka Steve Letsike has called on nations to unite all efforts and resources for the empowerment of women and girls.

The Deputy Minister was addressing a side event of the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79) held in New York on Wednesday.

She acknowledged that the challenge of women empowerment ‘is great’ with women and girls facing many obstacles.

‘We reiterate the severity of this challenge before us as the state of women’s empowerment leaves little to be desired, and the overall picture is consistent globally, with pockets of excellence in certain areas of development.

‘Women still own a smaller share of global wealth compared to men, with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) reporting that women owned $72 trillion of global wealth in 2020 which translates to about 17% of the total value of the global wealth held by individuals in that year.

‘This disparity is linked to factors such as gender pay gaps, unequa
l access to financial services, and fewer opportunities for leadership roles,’ Letsike said.

She added that although the challenges facing women empowerment are ‘evolving at an unprecedented pace’, a brighter future for all can be forged by ‘uniting our efforts and resources’.

‘The Education Plus Initiative stands as a beacon of hope, illuminating the pathway toward empowerment for girls and young women in the fight against the spread of HIV and an increase of AIDS related deaths.

‘It emphasises the vital importance of equipping women with education and skills, access to finance, security of land tenure, entrepreneurial opportunities and appointment of women to positions of leadership in both the private and public sectors.

‘By doing so, we not only enhance women’s participation in the labour market but also unlock women’s immense potential to drive sustainable economic growth as meaningful participants in the various sectors of the economy.’

The Deputy Minister added that nations need to adopt an ‘inter
sectional lens as we advance policy for the empowerment of women and adolescent girls’.

‘This will ensure that the unique and overlapping experiences of individuals or groups are recognised, thereby allowing us to craft our agenda to be more equitable and inclusive.

‘As leaders and stakeholders in this transformative journey, we bear a profound responsibility to ensure our institutions and policies are adept at addressing the challenges of both today and tomorrow, particularly for marginalised persons,’ Letsike said.

She called on world leaders to build a better future for women and girls today.

‘As we move forward, let us be inspired by the potential within our youth, especially our girls. They are not just the leaders of tomorrow; they are the catalysts of change today.

‘Together, we can build a world where their dreams are not limited by their circumstances, but rather fuelled by the opportunities we create for them,’ Letsike said.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is leading South Africa’s delegation to the
High-Level General Debate of the 79th Session of the General Assembly (UNGA79) in the United States of America. The debate of the UNGA79 is taking place at the United Nations headquarters in New York, from 24 to 30 September 2024.

Source: South African Government News Agency