Deputy Speaker, 9 August this year marked the 53rd anniversary of the heroic march by 20 000 women to the Union Buildings in 1956. This year's commemoration was inspired by the theme: Working together to empower women for development and gender equality. The Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and People with Disabilities was launched by President Zuma in Vryheid. President Zuma further committed the government he leads to working tirelessly for women's emancipation.
On this day, South Africans remembered the sacrifice, the commitment, the dedication and the unity in action of women of the 1950s who demonstrated that women are strong, powerful, special and valuable. The commemoration of this day continues to remind us of women's resilience and their amazing struggle spirit. It also reminds us of the high price that was exacted from those who went before us in order to create the environment we live and work in today.
However, despite our achievements, women continue to face challenges, particularly women workers and those who reside in rural areas. Amongst their challenges are the following. The first challenge is the feminisation of poverty, underdevelopment and unemployment. Much has been achieved, but women continue to bear the brunt of poverty and deprivation. Secondly, the objectification of women in society, especially in and by the media in particular, continues to be a major challenge. There is also the casualisation of women workers, where business relegates women to casual work and renders them vulnerable to retrenchments, outsourcing and casualisation. Now, with the current global financial crisis, women are relegated to the entry level of the economy and in the main do not own the means of production. Thank you. [Time expired.]