Source: BuaNews
The struggle for gender equality and women empowerment should continue even after Women's Month draws to a close, says Minister for Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Lulu Xingwana.

Speaking at the final Women's Month event in KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday, the Minister touched on several key issues that had been highlighted during the month, including the disparities that marginalised women from participating in the economy.

While South Africa's unemployment is estimated at 25.7%, that figure rises to 50% amongst African women.

Those women who have jobs are employed mostly in low paying jobs such as domestic work, tellers in the retail sector or shop floor workers in the textile sector.

"Severe under-representation of women in various economic sectors and in decision making positions in the private sector demonstrated during this month emphasise the need for urgent intervention to improve the status of women in our society," the minister said.

Xingwana added that her department would step up its efforts to develop the Gender Equality Bill that would enforce 50/50 gender parity in both the public and private sector.

The Bill is expected to be submitted for consideration by Cabinet by March 2012.

She also noted that the New Growth Path, which aims to create five million jobs over the next 10 years, will have clear gender indicators that will be used to measure the inclusion of women in the sectors targeted to advance the country's economic growth.

Xingwana also encouraged women to make the most of opportunities that came their way.

"During this month, we had firm commitment that Khula Enterprise will, from this financial year, allocate 50% of all its new loans to women. This requires that we mobilise women to submit business proposals and grab these opportunities for funding," she said.

The minister also turned her attention to the challenges of discrimination and violence that gay and lesbian people faced.

"Our government once again expresses its commitment to do everything possible to protect the right to sexual orientation as enshrined in our Constitution. Such interventions will be guided by the proposals of the Task Team on Lesbians, Gays, Bi-sexual, Transgender and Inter-sexual, which is currently developing an intervention plan against what is termed corrective rape and other related violations and concerns," she added.

Xingwana said her department would collaborate with the Department of Health in responding to the death of women as a result of pregnancy or child birth.

On the issue of HIV and Aids, the minister noted that an agreement had been signed with the Minister of Health to focus on HIV testing, especially during pregnancy.

"Every woman who tests positive should be able to enrol in the treatment and care programmes to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV and to prolong her own health. Our target is to achieve zero HIV transmission from mother to child," she said.

Xingwana also thanked all organisations, government departments, provinces and municipalities that participated in this year's national Women's Month

"Let us continue to work together to enhance women's opportunities for economic empowerment," she said.

• South Africa