By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities,is heading the South African delegation at the 68th Session of the United Nations (UN) Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68).
The 2024 United Nations CSW68 is currently underway at the UN headquarters in New York.
Taking place from 11 – 22 March, the largest annual gathering on gender equality and women’s empowerment is instrumental in promoting women’s rights and shaping global standards on gender equality and women empowerment.
On Tuesday, Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu addressed the Commission during the high-level Ministerial Roundtable on the theme, ‘Mobilising Financing for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of all Women and Girls: Strategies to End Women’s and Girls’ Poverty’.
The discussions aimed to mobilise financing for gender equality and empower all women and girls, with a particular emphasis on policies and strategies to end poverty among women and girls.
The CSW68 takes place under the theme, ‘Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective’.
Reducing poverty and inequality has been an overriding concern of South Africa’s development since the advent of democracy in 1994, as articulated in the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) to the present National Development Plan Vision 2030 (NDP).
South Africa remains committed to addressing gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening our institutions so that all women and girls are empowered and enjoy their human rights, as stipulated in the country’s Constitution, which is the Bill of Rights.