Women must liberate themselves: Envoy<\/p>\n
Veeramalla Anjaiah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
In any country if the women are not liberated, that country will
\nnever have neither democracy nor prosperity, South Africa's top
\nwoman diplomat said in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"Women's liberation is key to a country's development. You
\nwill never have true democracy, if the women are not liberated.
\nIf the women are not prosperous, no country will have
\nprosperity,\" South Africa's high commissioner to Singapore Zanele
\nMakina, who is also the former women's leader from the ruling
\nAfrican National Congress, said in her keynote speech at a
\nmeeting in Jakarta on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The meeting, which was organized by the South African Embassy
\nin Jakarta, was part of the celebrations to commemorate South
\nAfrica's National Women's Day on Aug. 9.<\/p>\n
South Africa's Ambassador to Indonesia G. Memela invited over
\nthe famous Gauteng Choristers from Johannesburg as the star
\nattraction for this year's Women's Day celebrations.<\/p>\n
The choir, which was formed in 1998, mesmerized the audience
\nwith their classical songs and folk songs.<\/p>\n
Makina said the liberation of women can be achieved only if
\nthe women liberate themselves. She also emphasized the importance
\nof educating women.<\/p>\n
\"If you educate women, that means you are educating the whole
\nnation,\" Makina explained, while emphasizing the key role of
\nwomen as mother and teacher of each family's children.<\/p>\n
In her speech as the chief guest of the program, Indonesia's
\nState Minister for Women's Empowerment Meutia Farida Hatta
\nSwasono said she appreciated South Africa for its progress in the
\nempowerment of women and urged all the Asian and African
\ncountries to work toward achieving gender equality.<\/p>\n
\"Recently, we have signed the New Asian-African Strategic
\nPartnership (NAASP) agreement. So, all the countries of Asia and
\nAfrica must focus on gender equality in order to implement the
\nagreement,\" Meutia said during the gathering.<\/p>\n
South Africa puts a lot of emphasis on women's roles in all
\nthe activities of the nation.<\/p>\n
\"We have more than 50 percent women legislators in our
\nparliament. We have several women ministers. Now we are moving
\ntoward allocating 50 percent of all the positions available in
\nthe government to women,\" South African Embassy counselor Mike
\nMembukwe told The Jakarta Post on the sidelines of the meeting.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Women's Congress (Kowani) vice president Titiek
\nS.A. Suyono hailed South Africa's progress in dealing with
\nwomen's issues.<\/p>\n
\"South Africa is well ahead of us. South African women play an
\nactive role in all aspects of life. You can see it from the
\nnumber of women ministers, executives, officials and diplomats,\"
\nTitiek, who is a former diplomat, told the Post.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/women-must-liberate-themselves-envoy-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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