South Africa Drives Global Dialogue on Women’s Empowerment at G20 Meeting

Kruger Park G20 meeting defines key points for women’s inclusion in global narratives

In a significant move to champion gender equality and women’s economic empowerment, South Africa, through its Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, recently hosted the third Group of Twenty (G20)

Empowerment of Women Working Group technical meeting. Held over four days, started on July 01 to 03, in Kruger National Park, the meeting brought together G20 member states, guest countries, civil society organisations, and technical experts to advance global dialogue and cooperation on critical issues affecting women.

Led by Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, the meeting primarily focused on the theme “The care economy – paid and unpaid care work and household responsibilities.” This timely discussion aimed to confront long-standing disparities in the recognition and distribution of care work, a cornerstone of both household functioning and national economies, yet largely undervalued and disproportionately shouldered by women and girls.

Over the course of the four-day gathering, delegates will engaged in strategic and evidence-based sessions. Key discussions included a deep dive into the global care landscape, emphasizing the recognition of marginalized care relationships and exploring the potential of care work to generate decent and inclusive employment.

Cross-country experiences in implementing gender-responsive budgeting and national care policies were also shared, alongside vital conversations on addressing gender-based violence and femicide. The agenda further encompassed a proposed action plan for women’s financial inclusion, G20 gender mainstreaming efforts for global women’s economic empowerment, and the overarching importance of gender equality as a cross-cutting issue.

The outcomes of this pivotal meeting are expected to significantly contribute to the G20’s policy agenda on women’s economic empowerment, with a particular focus on recognizing, reducing, and redistributing unpaid care work.
In his welcoming remarks on Tuesday, Mpumalanga Premier Mandla Ndlovu underscored the harsh reality of gender-based violence (GBV) that continues to plague women and children.

He stressed that the gathering’s outcomes could only be truly meaningful if they contributed directly to the fight against GBV and other challenges faced by women.

“Femicide is the ultimate expression of this violence, taking the lives of women and girls in a way that is heinous and heartbreaking,” Ndlovu stated. “Every statistic represents a real person – mothers, sisters, daughters and friends. Each loss impacts families, communities and the nation as a whole. Violence against women and children is not only affecting them, but all of us. It is our collective responsibility to end it.”