The global community has been called upon to confront the persistent and emerging barriers to gender equality with renewed urgency, unity, and innovation.
This call was made at the just-ended Group of 20 (G20) Empowerment of Women Working Group Ministerial Meeting held in South Africa this Saturday.
The meeting concluded with the adoption of the first-ever G20 Ministerial Declaration on the empowerment of women, which will be submitted to world leaders for endorsement at the upcoming G20 Summit.
South Africa is the first African nation to hold the presidency of the G20 and chose solidarity, equality and sustainability as its priority theme for the 12-month term.
The host Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Ms Sindisiwe Chikunga, who also chairs the G20 Empowerment of Women Working Group, outlined three main areas of focus for the group during South Africa’s presidency, including tackling paid and unpaid care work, boosting financial inclusion for women and fighting gender based violence and femicide.
Zimbabwe attended as a guest country with the Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa, emphasising that women empowerment and gender equality are not just an embodiment of social justice, but also a key driving force for sustainable development.
“Women are not just beneficiaries but are also key drivers and creators in addressing global challenges. This unprecedented event lays the foundations for actions to promote gender equality, which will continue during South Africa’s G20 presidency. 2025 is both a pivotal and testing year for women’s empowerment worldwide.
“Three decades ago, women of the world travelled to Beijing not as supplicants seeking charity, but as architects of our own liberation. We have come a long way, but profound challenges remain. While legislative and social progress has been achieved, structural inequality, gender-based violence, and economic exclusion continue to undermine women’s full participation in society and the economy. We cannot discuss economic inclusion without addressing care work, and we cannot talk about empowerment while violence continues to silence women,” she said.
The meeting also cast the spotlight on policy development, research exchange with the Ministerial session, and consolidating key recommendations on collective action to promote women’s empowerment across the G20 platform.
Held from Thursday to Saturday, the meeting brought together representatives from G20 member states, guest countries and international organisations.
Participants unanimously called for joint efforts to advance gender equality and women’s participation in economic, innovation and decision-making spheres.
Original Article by Memory Chamisa.
SOURCED FROM THE G20 WEBSITE.
