Women under-represented in South Africa leadership positions

Summary of story from Bua News Online, July 5, 2011

Women are significantly under-represented in leadership positions and over-represented among the unemployed in South Africa, according to the Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies.

Speaking at the launch of the United Nations Women Empowerment Principles, Davies said the private sector should spearhead as well as support women’s empowerment.

“The significance of this launch lies in the fact that although there have been efforts in government to promote gender equality and certainly efforts by a number of corporates to do the same, the overall picture in South Africa is slightly above some indexes and somehow below other indexes on the international average, which in itself is well below what it needs to be,” he explained.

The event was attended by chief executive officers of companies at the launch of seven principles, which include establishing high level corporate leadership for gender equality; ensuring the health, safety and well being of workers; the fair and equal treatment of all women in the workplace; and the support of human rights and non-discrimination.

The principles aim to promote, develop and empower women through community initiatives and advocacy, and progress will be measured and reported publicly in an attempt to achieve equality.

“Gender equality calls for a more holistic approach in order to tackle the interconnected causes that create the inequalities,” said Deputy Minister Elizabeth Thabethe, who was also at the launch.