Women’s Month Push for Inclusive Dialogue in South Africa

• Women’s Active Participation in National Dialogue: The South African government is calling for full and active involvement of women in the upcoming National Dialogue, starting with the first National Convention in Pretoria, to shape the nation’s future.
• Legacy of the 1956 Women’s March and Leadership: Reflecting on the 1956 Women’s March, the Presidency emphasizes that women must lead efforts to address national challenges, continuing their historic role in shaping South Africa’s political and social landscape.
• Inclusive Representation of Women: The government aims to ensure women from diverse backgrounds—age, ethnicity, social status, disability, and LGBTQI+ communities—are equally represented in all structures guiding the National Dialogue.

As South Africa celebrates Women’s Month, government is calling for women’s full and active participation in the upcoming National Dialogue, starting with the first National Convention in Pretoria this Friday.

Reflecting on the legacy of the 1956 Women’s March, the Presidency said women must once again lead efforts to shape the nation’s future. The Dialogue aims to bring together individuals and organisations to find common ground on the country’s challenges, from unemployment and poverty to climate change and crime.

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Government has pledged to ensure women are equally represented in all structures guiding the process, emphasising inclusion of women from diverse backgrounds young and old, urban and rural, different ethnic and language groups, women with disabilities, and LGBTQI+ communities.

It acknowledged that women’s struggles differ, noting that rural and traditional communities often face challenges distinct from urban areas with better access to resources and services. The call follows recommendations from last year’s South African Women’s Pre-National Dialogue, which urged the process to reflect the full spectrum of women’s priorities.

Women have historically shaped South Africa’s political and social landscape, from FEDSAW’s role in the Freedom Charter to protests against apartheid laws and the fight against gender-based violence.

The Presidency says ensuring women’s voices are central to the National Dialogue would be a fitting tribute to the pioneers of 1956 and a crucial step towards an inclusive, equitable South Africa.