Parliament Calls for Accelerated Action on Gender Equality

Johannesburg: Parliament has called for an acceleration in gender equality and women's empowerment across the African continent. Addressing Parliament's G20 special engagement between Parliament and the Pan-African Parliament's (PAP) women and young parliamentarians, held in Johannesburg on Friday, Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, challenged parliamentarians to lead an "epistemic shift" by unlearning the colonial ideologies that continue to shape public policy, and to build a new legislative framework grounded in equity, reparations and dignity for all. According to South African Government News Agency, Mtshweni-Tsipane emphasized the need for parliamentary diplomacy to dismantle exclusionary logics that sort individuals by race, gender, and class. As South Africa prepares to host the G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit (P20) in October 2025, she urged women and young African parliamentarians to seize this opportunity to advocate for gender justice, feminist solidari ty, and reforms centered on people. The Chairperson stressed that the rights of women and girls must be realized in practical terms, beyond just being documented on paper. She called for a transition from symbolic gestures to systemic change, ensuring that these rights are visible in courtrooms, clinics, classrooms, and every village across Africa. Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Annelie Lotriet, echoed Mtshweni-Tsipane's sentiments, noting that while policy frameworks and statistics are in place, the need now is for deliberate and determined action driven by political will. As South Africa presides over the Group Twenty (G20) Presidency, the upcoming P20 Summit aims to enhance global legislative collaboration on key development issues, serving as the parliamentary dimension of the G20.