Parliament hosts international women's conference
29 August 2017
The Office of the ANC Chief Whip congratulates the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa for hosting an international women's conference. The two-day event (from 29 to 30 August 2017) commenced today under the theme "Women in the Changing World of Work" is set to focus on the importance of changing the world of work to be sensitive to women's gender needs and interests.
This conference is located within the context of taking forward the agenda of the 61st Session of the Commission on the Status of Women held at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in March 2017. The conference is also set to adopt a consolidated programme that will inform discussions at the 62nd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women to be held in March 2018.
Over the course of the next two days, delegates will discuss among other things, the economic impact of violence against women, addressing sexual harassment in the workplace and the role of legislatures in fast tracking progress in this regard. The conference will also deliberate on the use of technology to expand women's access to the economy and entrepreneurship in order to tackle the structural barriers to gender inequality.
This conference will be attended by 250 delegates from various parts of the country and continent including the Pan African Women's Organization, trade unions, business and civil society organizations, the African Peer Review Panel and delegates from Parliaments in Africa and other continents.
The hosting of this conference will assist in giving effect to commitments that South Africa has made in international conventions and protocols such as the convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, ensuring the eradication of poverty, educating and training women and girls, in so doing closing the gender gap in the economy.
As women's month comes to an end, we wish all delegates participating in the conference well as they engage in frank and robust discussions on the emancipation of women in the world of work. The new world of work must indeed be reconstructed for women and girls.
Malibongwe igama lamakhosikazi!!!
Issued by the Office of the ANC Chief Whip
Enquiries:
Nonceba Mhlauli
Media Liaison Officer
072 623 3462
