CAPE TOWN, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile on Wednesday urged collective action to advance gender equality and tackle persistent challenges at the P20 Women's Parliament.
"Gender equality lies at the core of our democracy, for true democracy can only flourish when all individuals are treated with dignity and respect, and have access to equal opportunities," said Mashatile.
The deputy president acknowledged the strides made in advancing women's rights in South Africa, highlighting that the country ranks second among G20 nations regarding female representation, with women constituting 42 percent of the parliament.
However, Mashatile warned that representation alone is not enough. "The reality is that, despite an increase in representation in parliament since 1994, as I have already mentioned, most sectors of our economy remain male-dominated."
Therefore, he called on attendees to prioritize the empowerment of women in efforts to promote economic growth and social equality. "We must pursue viable solutions to the persistent challenges, such as the gender pay gap and under-representation of women in leadership roles," he said.
Mashatile also appealed for legislative measures that will guarantee women-owned small, micro, and medium businesses access to working capital and inclusion in the mainstream economy.
The high-level gathering marks a milestone as South Africa hosts the P20 Women's Parliament for the first time on African soil. It runs from Wednesday to Thursday in Cape Town, under the theme "Accelerating Equality, Sustainability and Shared Growth."
Created in 2010, the P20 group is led by the presidents of the Group of Twenty (G20) countries' parliaments, aiming to engage parliaments to strengthen global collaboration and ensure the practical implementation of international agreements in the G20 members. ■