Madam Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, hon Minister, Deputy Ministers and hon members, we have heard increasingly during the past few days how the Organisation of African Unity, the predecessor of the African Union, was born 48 years ago. We heard that the founding fathers of the OAU met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to create the foundation for conditions of security, peace, stability, human rights, equality, and justice. And, most importantly, they met to promote brotherhood and sisterhood among the peoples of Africa. They were determined to promote understanding and solidarity among Africans.
I was encouraged to hear, over the radio this morning, young people discussing the significance and necessity of celebrating this day. I was also encouraged by the contributions made by listeners to the discussion. They linked the principles of the OAU Charter to the life that we are living as South Africans and as Africans.
A participant who stood out from the rest responded to the question, ``What is there to celebrate?'', by saying that issues about women and how they live their achievements, prospects, struggles and triumphs are no longer treated as an afterthought in African society. She continued by saying that we have women leaders - women leaders here in this House, women in business leadership, women in political leadership, etc. She said that for her, that was a good enough reason to celebrate. The person that has just left this podium must listen very carefully. Maybe that will help him improve his percentage of voters! Today, I stand here to say that for me too that is a good enough reason to celebrate.
It gives me a great sense of pride to be standing in front of you, acknowledging what has been achieved on the African continent. It is remarkable that all over Africa, from Botswana to Benin and from Ghana to Guinea, our fellow Africans are celebrating in a similar way to what we are doing in South Africa today. Also, the diaspora of Africans elsewhere are celebrating this day that signifies the unity of Africans.
While it is acknowledged that there is much to be celebrated, it is prudent to also bear in mind that there is still much work to be done, particularly regarding issues of women and their place in African society.
We all know that the negative impact of war and poverty is visited more significantly on women and girl children. Modern-day conflicts on the continent, for example, have exposed many women and girl children to harrowing experiences of violence, starvation and death. Many of them have found themselves living under subhuman conditions in refugee camps. Here at home we have spoken in this House about young girls who have been abducted by men who are supposed to be providers of care and who are supposed to support them. Elsewhere on the continent women in armed conflict situations are vulnerable to a greatly increased risk of violence, which results in physical and psychological trauma, and may lead to permanent disability and death.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that women and children comprise 70% to 80% of the world's refugee and internally displaced population. In flight, they are often violated by armed groups, civilians or even peacekeepers. These atrocities are happening to those members of society who are the building blocks of a nation and its pulse. They symbolise the state of society and of economic health and development.
We ask ourselves the question: Where do we as the House start dealing with these problems, and how do we put all the ideas we have into practice? I suggest that the first step is to recognise that the problems and strife of my fellow Africans are mine; to pay attention to the history of the continent and its struggle to free itself from slavery; and to boldly and proudly identify ourselves as Africans - in pain and happiness, fortune and misfortune. Countless efforts have been made and mechanisms put in place on the continent and internationally to ensure that we succeed in doing this.
For example, the Security Council adopted Resolution 1325: General Women, Peace and Security on 31 October 2000. The resolution reaffirms the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace negotiations, peace-building, peacekeeping, humanitarian responses and postconflict reconstruction.
The resolution stresses the importance of equal participation and the full involvement of women in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security. The resolution further urges all actors to increase the participation of women and incorporate gender perspectives in all United Nations peace and security efforts.
It also calls on all parties to conflicts to take special measures to protect women and girls from gender-based violence, particularly rape and other forms of sexual abuse in situations of armed conflict.
Last weekend we were pleased to have here our former Deputy Speaker of this House, who is also the chairperson of the ANC - the giant movement. Umam' uBaleka is a former Deputy President of South Africa. The premier of the province also joined us, and about 25 members of this House attended the gathering of the so-called "Progressive Women's Movement".
I raise this because I could not write down all the things that we learnt from the women of Southern Sudan, Libya and the Congo. We showed them that the struggles in which our comrade leaders had been involved made it possible for us to be there that day, and that we felt we had to have Ministers and Deputy Ministers who were women, young lions. That is the struggle of South Africa and that is why today you cannot come and stand at this podium today and say that we have done nothing.
If Mr Mphahlele, as the leader of the PAC, wants to remember where he came from, he must remember that there was no housing for the poorest of the poor. Where I came from we did not have housing, and where I lived in South Africa we didn't have a policy on housing. If there was housing, it was for very few people. Today we drink clean water. Today we have incukuthu edongeni [electric light switches on our walls]. That is what my constituency people in Pondoland say when they are enjoying having electricity. Today we have social grants that black people in particular did not have.
The building blocks provided by the United Nations form a strong basis for all Africans, young and old, women and men, to become affected by the strife experienced by our fellow Africans and to be involved in the process of restoring their dignity and providing for a peaceful existence. As Parliament, this is a tool that can inform our involvement in assisting fellow Africans during conflicts and postconflict reconstruction.
I must share with members that on behalf of Parliament the Progressive Women's Movement agreed that we as South Africa had to champion this Resolution 1325. We took a decision that our Deputy Speaker should lead a task team that would champion this resolution, because we always take protocol into consideration when dealing with resolutions; we don't domesticate them and take them to the locals.
We agreed that we as the national Parliament would take the resolution and make inputs on it in the multiparty women's caucus programme when we visited our provinces, which have their own multiparty women's caucuses. We see that without the women from South Africa, there will be no change.
I encourage all Members of Parliament to teach our children about Africa Day, and to continue to strive for a peaceful Africa. Thank you. [Time expired.] [Applause.]