UN Women's Empowerment Principles Launch in South Africa
Speech by the Counsellor of Labour and Social Affairs, Monika M Sommer, on the occasion of the the launch of the UN Women's Empowerment Principles in South Africa on July 4, 2011
I am happy to speak to you here - and I am humbled by this gathering of excellent representatives from different walks of life, all gathered here for the launch and unveiling of the UN Womens’ Empowerment Principles in South Africa.
First of all, I would like to convey the sincere apologies of my Ambassador, Mr Dieter Haller, for not being with us. Unfortunately, he could not come as we are expecting German President Mr. Christian Wulff on his mission to Durban to support the German bid to host the Olympic Games in Munich 2018.
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Counsellor of Labour and Social Affairs, Monika Sommer, (middle) at the launch
(© BPS South Africa)
Many of you might be more familiar with German International Cooperation institutions, especially with the GIZ, than with the German Embassy. Today I am privileged to also address you on behalf of Mr. Peter Conze, Director of the GIZ, who is here with us. In view of the tight programme, he asked me to introduce the new structure of our German cooperation institutions. Many of you are familiar with Inwent – Capacity Building International – an organisation that worked particularly in this relevant field of women’s empowerment and specifically in Southern Africa with the Programme CHANCE (which stands for “Training, Dialogue and Networking for Business Intermediaries in the SADC and SAARS Regions”).
Since January 1, 2011 however, Inwent, along with two other German Development Organisations, DED and GTZ merged into the new GIZ (all these abbreviations stand for German names – the latter translates into something akin to “German Organisation for International Development”, but we usually don’t translate it). This organisation combines the different approaches and instruments of its predecessors, but will work even more efficiently than before. Committed to the same spirit of partnership, GIZ is now the main implementing agency of the German government in its aim to support societies in developing and transition countries to shape their own futures and improve living conditions. Important in our context here is: GIZ remains your reliable partner under a different name.
Talking about German organisations present here among the distinguished guests at this breakfast meeting, I would like to mention the presence of the Executive Director of the German Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Matthias Boddenberg. I am very pleased to see the active involvement in this cause of supporting women in their professional endeavours.
When it comes to the subject that brings us together here today, much has already been said about the importance of empowering women. I would just like to underline this for the business world. Experiences in the world – including in my own country – have shown that the promotion of gender equality in the corporate world is an extremely challenging issue. Women often don’t have the chance to develop into responsible CEO positions. The Women's Empowerment Principles seek to point ways out of the dilemma of habitual discrimination and help break the invisible glass ceiling that often hinders women from contributing their share to the economy. There is much to be done and the adoption of the UN-Principles represents a crucial step in womens’ advancement in societies of the world. They are a useful guide for businesses and will inform other stakeholders, including governments, in their engagement with business, too.
Let me also draw your attention to the excellent participatory structures of tripartite institutions that you have here in South Africa. These institutions aim at giving workers a voice in the economy and provide ideal structures to give voice to women at all levels of the hierarchy as well. NEDLAC was already mentioned this before, but participation in decision making should be equally reflected in any company.
Finally, I would like to express the commitment of the German Embassy to maintain a supportive role in this important approach to further gender equality.
© German Embassy Pretoria
July 21, 2011
