The president was speaking on Wednesday at the launch of the first-ever Women’s Economic Assembly, where he called on the private and public sectors to ensure that efforts to create economic gender equality translate into growth and tangible sustainability.
President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses the Women’s Economic Assembly on October 6, 2021. Photo: Supplied
JOHANNESBURG – President Cyril Ramaphosa has said that by empowering women economically, their risk of vulnerability, abuse and violence is reduced, giving them control over their own future.
The President was speaking at the launch of the first-ever Women’s Economic Assembly, which brought together delegates from government, civil society and the private sector to develop a joint action plan to advance women’s economic empowerment .
Ramaphosa called on both the private and public sectors to ensure that efforts to create economic gender equality translate into tangible growth and sustainability.
“By improving the economic situation of women, we reduce their vulnerability to abuse, as well as violence. A woman who is in charge of her economic future is a woman who has power over her own life, ”said the president.
The president urged every government department, public institution and private enterprise to implement mechanisms to accelerate preferential purchasing for women-owned enterprises.
“It is thanks to this that employment can be created. It is thanks to this that production can be increased, and it is thanks to this that we can accelerate economic growth, ”he said.
#WECONA Ramaphosa says women are virtually absent as key owners, controllers and managers in critical sectors of the economy.
He adds that the unemployment rate for women is almost 37% compared to 32% for men. pic.twitter.com/vwzjHUmoNPEWN reporter (@ewnreporter) October 6, 2021
