ARTICLE: TAKING STOCK OF WOMEN’S RIGHTS
2014-08-29
As August, our Women’s Month, draws to an end, it is time to reflect on the progress South Africa has made in terms of realising women’s rights.
As August, our Women’s Month, draws to an end, it is time to reflect on the progress South Africa has made in terms of realising women’s rights.
The Centre for Constitutional Rights (CFCR) celebrates Women’s Day in honour of all women who continue to build our constitutional democracy and the values, rights and principles upon which it was founded.
The Centre for Constitutional Rights (the CFCR) welcomes a recent statement by Minister Susan Shabangu, Minister of Women in the Presidency, that the Women Empowerment and Gender Equality Bill (the WEGE Bill) will be withdrawn for further consultation.
On 8 March South Africa will join the world in celebrating International Women’s Day. This year’s theme, as decided upon by United Nations Women is “Equality for Women is Progress for All”. The Constitution guarantees the rights of all citizens and establishes human dignity, the achievement of equality, and the advancement of human rights and freedoms as foundational values.
The achievement of equality and non-sexism are two of the key founding values of the Constitution. Section 9 of the Constitution gives effect to these values by creating the right to equality before the law and equal protection and benefit of the law. Hence, in late 2013, the Women Empowerment and Gender Equality Bill (the Bill) was introduced in Parliament.
On Women’s Day we recognise the accomplishments of women, having moved forward in leaps and bounds over the decades. Apart from these accomplishments, we also recognise and celebrate our constitutional right to dignity, equality and fundamental freedoms – not necessarily as women or men, but as equals before the law and society. Gender equality is, however, not a zero-sum game – the promotion, protection and realization of the rights enshrined in our Bill of Rights is a gain for all. Founded upon the constitutional values of equality, human dignity and the advancement of human rights and freedoms, the freedom and security of the person is a fundamental right provided for in the Constitution. But do we, and in particular men, have an equal understanding of these rights?