Mbeki launches women group
David Masango
20 August 2004
President Thabo Mbeki on Friday launched the Presidential Women's Working Group that aims to establish a shared understanding of transformation challenges that women face.
This group also aims to afford government with the opportunity to engage and interact meaningfully with women.
The inaugural meeting takes part against the background of the National Women's Month, which is celebrated throughout the country this month.
The theme of the meeting is "Celebrating 10 Years of freedom - Women building a better South Africa and a better World", and it will focus on celebrating the contributions women have made to shape democracy while taking stock of challenges and opportunities in the decade ahead.
Numerous events, including a "women's caravan", have been organised to coincide with the celebrations.
The caravan is a mobile information and service delivery truck, which has already reached out to over 40 villages and towns
even in the remotest corners of the country.
Speaking at the launch, Mbeki said it was necessary to establish the body to improve communication between government and women to jointly decide on ways to respond to challenges facing women.
"Interaction has to influence what government does, thus the need for us to pay attention to what has been raised [during the group's meetings]," said Mbeki.
The President also urged the delegates to ensure that the meeting did not turn into a "talk shop".
He also raised concerns about the representation of various women's bodies in the group, emphasising the need for the body to be as inclusive of all women's groups as possible.
He said one of the reasons women development and the establishment of the women's body took long was due to the large number of different women's groups and difficulty in bringing all of them under one roof.
"Over time we need to allow for space to increase the number of delegates
in this group," the President added.
He also expressed his gratitude that the launch took place during the significant Women's Month.
The women attending meeting include Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, Correctional Services Deputy Minister Cheryl Gillwald, Chairperson of the Commission on Gender Equality Joyce Seroke, the Chairperson of the National Rural Movement for Women Mita Mokwana as well as the President of the Women's Development Foundation Dr Brigalia Bam.
Source: BuaNews
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