Chair, Women's Month is a good time to appreciate and celebrate wives, mothers, gogos, sisters, daughters and aunts.
The ACDP would like to see women stand up for what is right and uphold family values at home and in the community. The ACDP is aware of Parliament's constant efforts to facilitate the empowerment of women for gender development and equality. Sadly, the results do not adequately reflect the efforts.
The ACDP is of the opinion that there would be a greater impact if we refrained from separating women, youth, children and men, and dealt with issues from the perspective of the family and what is good for the family. Women cannot be separated from the whole if we are to develop and experience equality. No issues are exclusively women's issues, nor, for that matter, exclusively men's or youth issues. Women should be heard on all issues.
In this regard, Parliament contributes significantly in ensuring that the voices of women are not drowned out and that women across the country have access to Parliament and its processes in the same measure that men do.
Following this year's election, South Africa has also risen from thirteenth to third place in the global ranking of women in parliaments.
Maternal, child and women's health is still of great concern in South Africa, as each year 1 600 women die from complications in pregnancy and childbirth. Sir, 20 000 babies die before they are a month old, 70 000 children die before the age of five, and, according to statistics, 20 000 babies are stillborn.
Shockingly, this Parliament has bought into the deception that the way out of this dilemma is for women to choose not to carry their babies to full term, and hundreds and thousands of babies are being destroyed in their mothers' wombs as well. When we devalue human life, we devalue women.
Staggering numbers of orphans, child-headed households, children living in poverty, child abuse and violent crimes against children are a grave reflection of a society in crisis. Children are a gift from God. Every child is precious and must be valued and cared for. We will not value women if we do not value our children.
Women in South Africa need to be appreciated and supported. Of course, when we learn to value ourselves, and recognise our own worth - not only collectively but individually - men may be empowered to begin to do the same. Thank you. [Applause.]