Kruger national park: The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) is hosting the 3rd Technical Meeting of the G20 Empowerment of Women Working Group (EWWG) at Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga Province. As part of its leadership role within the G20 EWWG, South Africa is spearheading efforts to promote women’s participation and representation in leadership, governance, and decision-making, while also advocating for increased ownership and control by women across economic and social sectors.
According to South African Government News Agency, the meeting, which takes place from 01 to 04 July 2025, brings together G20 member states, guest countries, civil society organisations, and technical experts to advance global dialogue and cooperation on gender equality and women’s empowerment. The meeting will focus on ‘The Care Economy – Paid and Unpaid Care Work and Household Responsibilities.’
‘The topic aims to address long-standing disparities in the recognition and distribution of care w
ork, which is essential to both household functioning and national economies yet remains undervalued and disproportionately carried by women and girls,’ department spokesperson, Cassius Selala said.
Over the four days, delegates will participate in strategic and evidence-based sessions, including presentations and discussions on the global care landscape, cross-country experiences of implementing Gender Responsive Budgeting and National Care Policies, addressing Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, and proposing an action plan on financial inclusion for women. Other topics include the G20 gender mainstreaming efforts on women’s economic empowerment globally and gender equality as a cross-cutting issue across G20 Working Groups and Task Forces.
High-level speakers will include DWYPD Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga; representatives of the G20 Member States, including guest countries, and international organisations; academic and policy experts from University of Cape Town, United Nations Women, International Labou
r Organisation (ILO), World Health Organisation (WHO); and delegates from civil society and G20 engagement groups, including Women 20 (W20) and Women Empower 20, amongst others.
Selala said the outcomes of the meeting will contribute to the G20’s policy agenda on women’s economic empowerment, with a specific focus on recognising, reducing, and redistributing unpaid care work. ‘This engagement also aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 5 and the G20’s ongoing commitment to the Brisbane Goal 25×25 [reduce the gender gap in labour force participation by 25 per cent by the year 2025],’ Selala said.