Women Celebrating a Decade of Freedom on the Path to Total Emancipation by Lance Greyling
2004-08-23. You may well ask why a man is giving this speech today. Here are a few reasons. Our party leader, Patricia de Lille, is busy taking parliament to the people she is currently delivering another speech on the role of women in conflict resolution at UCT. The other reason is that the Independent Democrats likes to be different and we like to bring another perspective to these parliamentary debates.
We also believe that it should not
only be women that celebrate this month, but also men. Men should take
this time to reflect on the enormous role that women played in
delivering our democracy and continue to play in deepening it. I
am delivering this speech today as a man, because I believe that
the gender divide in this country, and for that matter the world, needs
to urgently be bridged.
All too often issues that affect women are marginalized by being confined to the women's sector. Many men don't believe that these issues concern them. Issues around the abuse of women and sexual violence will only be eradicated when men change their destructive attitudes. Men need to understand that women and children are to be protected and loved and never abused.
Every year we quote the alarming statistics surrounding rape and abuse, as if this is going to magically change the situation. It is an unfortunate reality that the government cannot legislate individual attitudes. Change can only be achieved through both men and women openly and honestly communicating their feelings about the attitudes and the actions that perpetuate this situation. The ID intends providing such forums so that we can truly bridge this gender divide.
Attitudes are formed by the society in which we live. Our society is currently formed around the primary interests of men. The working day is not structured around working mothers with children. Women are often trapped by financial and socially endorsed dependence on men. Women can only be truly equal if they are economically equal.
Our justice system also needs to do far more to accommodate women. Not long ago I accompanied a women friend to the police station after she had been repeatedly abused by her boyfriend. It was not a pleasant experience and the justice system struggled to offer her the protection she should have been entitled to.
Women are also bearing the brunt of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in South Africa, with more women than men being infected. It is not enough for us as parliamentarians to light candles and wear ribbons; we have to take practical steps to eradicate this scourge. One such practical step is the Femmidom. On a recent visit to a rural hospital in the Eastern Cape I was informed that the doctors there could not keep up with the demand for Femmidoms.
The Department of Health cannot use cost implications as an excuse for not for not being able to produce enough of these female contraceptives, because life is priceless.
It is not however all doom and gloom. The women of South Africa have come a long way in the last ten years because we have a bill of rights, a constitution and many laws that protect the rights of women. Our democracy has also seen over a quarter of a million South Africans voting for the only women leader of a nationally based political party in Africa. The ID intends to take forward the mandate given to us by these voters to bridge the gender divide. So many South African women have excelled over the last ten years in their positions in leadership. These women are role models, not only for South Africans but for other African women. We need to ensure that the gains that have been made for women in South Africa are spread throughout the continent.
Women of South Africa I salute you. Malibongwe.
All too often issues that affect women are marginalized by being confined to the women's sector. Many men don't believe that these issues concern them. Issues around the abuse of women and sexual violence will only be eradicated when men change their destructive attitudes. Men need to understand that women and children are to be protected and loved and never abused.
Every year we quote the alarming statistics surrounding rape and abuse, as if this is going to magically change the situation. It is an unfortunate reality that the government cannot legislate individual attitudes. Change can only be achieved through both men and women openly and honestly communicating their feelings about the attitudes and the actions that perpetuate this situation. The ID intends providing such forums so that we can truly bridge this gender divide.
Attitudes are formed by the society in which we live. Our society is currently formed around the primary interests of men. The working day is not structured around working mothers with children. Women are often trapped by financial and socially endorsed dependence on men. Women can only be truly equal if they are economically equal.
Our justice system also needs to do far more to accommodate women. Not long ago I accompanied a women friend to the police station after she had been repeatedly abused by her boyfriend. It was not a pleasant experience and the justice system struggled to offer her the protection she should have been entitled to.
Women are also bearing the brunt of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in South Africa, with more women than men being infected. It is not enough for us as parliamentarians to light candles and wear ribbons; we have to take practical steps to eradicate this scourge. One such practical step is the Femmidom. On a recent visit to a rural hospital in the Eastern Cape I was informed that the doctors there could not keep up with the demand for Femmidoms.
The Department of Health cannot use cost implications as an excuse for not for not being able to produce enough of these female contraceptives, because life is priceless.
It is not however all doom and gloom. The women of South Africa have come a long way in the last ten years because we have a bill of rights, a constitution and many laws that protect the rights of women. Our democracy has also seen over a quarter of a million South Africans voting for the only women leader of a nationally based political party in Africa. The ID intends to take forward the mandate given to us by these voters to bridge the gender divide. So many South African women have excelled over the last ten years in their positions in leadership. These women are role models, not only for South Africans but for other African women. We need to ensure that the gains that have been made for women in South Africa are spread throughout the continent.
Women of South Africa I salute you. Malibongwe.
