09 Mar 2023

The commemoration of Women’s Day presents an opportunity to encourage their participation and involvement in all spheres of life to ensure their empowerment.

This is according to United Congregation Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA)’s Reverend Bonolo Burns, who was speaking at International Women’s Days Commemoration in Mogobane on Wednesday.

Reverend Burns, who was the guest speaker at the event, said the commemoration was meant to help disseminate information on gender and development issues at all levels.

She said at such events, women were also able to review what struggles they went through for equality as they unite, network and mobilise for meaningful change.

She said it also availed an opportunity for women to speak out against issues of gender based-violence (GBV).

Ms Burns said during the COVID-19 era, technology came in handy for professional, economic, social and political lives. 

She said she believed that the theme: Digital: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality, advocated for a gender responsive approach to innovation, technology and digital education and could increase the awareness regarding women and girls’ rights and civic engagement.

She said online or digital experiences were essential for children and young people’s development, urging all stakeholders to adopt the use of technology for online education, access to formal and informal learning, access to information relating to health and one’s wellbeing, access job and career opportunities.

Ms Burns said though the use of technology had proven to be essential, females were disadvantaged on issues of digital adoption as they were still left behind in involvement or interests in context of digital skills and access to technologies. 

She said studies showed that only 0.5 per cent of 15-year- old girls wished to become Information Communication Technology professionals compared to five per cent of boys, while girls lost interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics as they got older due to engendered social expectations of the profession.

She added that women were still reluctant to adopt technology due to issues of harassment and other forms of violence they experience through online platforms.

Ms Burns however said though technology had its negativess, it had proven to ‘open avenues for women’s economic and social empowerment and could be used to boost gender equality if we are strategic about it’. 

She also noted that it was imperative to reflect on women’s contribution to the social, economic, cultural and political spheres of the society as reports showed that women’s exclusion from the digital world contributed to the economic decline of low and middle income countries.

To emphasise Ms Burns words, in a debate Mogobane Junior Secondary School pupils said they strongly believed that for women to achieve or reach their full potential there should be equality in distribution of resources that empowered both men and women and all should remember that equality went hand in hand with equity.

They however acknowledged that there was no women empowerment without the support of their counterparts.

South East Sub-district Council chairperson, Mr Oshima Peloewetse applauded men for being part of platforms meant to empower women, adding that they could do better through technology. 

He encouraged women to self-empower through fending for self and not relying on government or the next person. 

He said ‘phatlaphatla e a iphatlalaletsa, kgobokgobo e a ikgobokanyetsa,’ urging women and girls to stand up for themselves and follow their dreams.

South East’s Assistant District Commissioner,  Ms Kushata Tsokedi said the day was meant to celebrate women’s successes and achievements, as well as their socio-economic impact and to discuss challenges that hindered women from reaching their potential in all areas of their lives.

The event was organised by the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sports and Culture in collaboration with the South East Sub-district gender committee. ENDs