MINISTER TOLASHE TO CHAMPION REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AT CSW

By Precious Mupenzi

• South Africa will be strongly represented at the 69th Commission on the Status of Women taking place from 10 March 2025 in New York.
• The minister of social development and South Africa’s SheDecides champion Nokuzola Sisisi Tolashe will be taking part in several high-level discussions and engagements.
• The theme for the commission – “Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective,” – aligns with South Africa’s ongoing efforts to bridge gender gaps and advance women’s rights.

Minister of Social Development Nokuzola Sisisi Tolashe will lead the South African delegation at the 69th Commission on the Status of Women in New York from 10 – 22 March 2025.

As the newly appointed SheDecides champion for South Africa, Minister Tolashe will be officially welcomed in this role at the commission, continuing the legacy of former minister Lindiwe Zulu in advocating for sexual and reproductive health rights and bodily autonomy.

The minister’s role as a SheDecides champion is a significant recognition of her commitment to advancing the rights of women and girls.

She will participate in several high-level discussions and engagements, strengthening South Africa’s position as a global advocate for gender equality.

Engagements at the Commission on the Status of Women

During the commission, Minister Tolashe will participate in events that reaffirm South Africa’s commitment to gender equality and reproductive rights. These engagements are aligned with the country’s efforts under the SheDecides programme, which is actively implemented by the Department of Social Development.

On Tuesday, 11 March 2025, Minister Tolashe will take part in a high-level roundtable on “Bodily autonomy as a pillar for realising gender equality”, a closed-door event hosted by France and Colombia, where she will share South Africa’s progressive policies on sexual and reproductive health and rights.

On Wednesday, 12 March, the minister will join the Global Safe Abortion Dialogue panel, discussing the topic “Advancing abortion rights and access: strengthening our resilient movement”.

Co-hosted by Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, this session will bring together policymakers, UN agencies, and civil society leaders to explore strategies for improving access to safe abortion and strengthening global advocacy efforts.

Minister Tolashe is also expected to speak on South Africa’s legislative and policy framework supporting abortion rights, as well as the country’s experience in overcoming challenges posed by conservative pushbacks.

The significance of the commission

The Commission on the Status of Women is the United Nations’ principal global policy-making body dedicated to promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Since its establishment in 1946, the commission has played a pivotal role in shaping international frameworks, including the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which remains the cornerstone of global gender equality initiatives.

The theme for the 69th Commission on the Status of Women, “Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective,” aligns with South Africa’s ongoing efforts to bridge gender gaps and advance women’s rights.

The session will review the progress made since the Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing+30) in 1995 and assess challenges hindering the realisation of gender equality globally.

South Africa’s role in SheDecides

SheDecides is a global political movement advocating for the rights of women and girls to make their own choices regarding their sexual and reproductive health.

Established in 2017, the movement challenges restrictive social norms and promotes gender equality worldwide.

With 54 champions globally, SheDecides is driving change by amplifying bold voices, strengthening political action, and fostering collaboration among activists and policymakers.

South Africa has been actively involved in SheDecides since hosting the first global SheDecides Day in 2018.

The Department of Social Development institutionalised the movement in 2019, launching the SheDecides South Africa movement and integrating its objectives into various national programmes.

South Africa is also expected to participate and co-host the global Safe Abortion Dialogues side event on “Advancing safe abortion rights in times of pushback: spotlighting innovation and resilience”.

Scheduled for 12 March, this session will provide a space of solidarity for governments and civil society to strengthen collective action against the backlash on reproductive rights.

The event will also launch a momentum-building initiative for a two-day pre-conference on abortion rights, set to take place in November 2025 in Bogotá, ahead of the international conference on family planning.

Dr Bongi Owusu, Director of Gender and Women Empowerment at the Department of Social Development, emphasised the department’s commitment to empowering young girls and women through the SheDecides programme.

“The SheDecides programme is a critical step towards advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights in South Africa,” she said.

“By partnering with amakhosi and ondlunkulu, the department aims to amplify its reach and impact, particularly in areas with high concentrations of adolescent girls and young women. This collaboration will help to address the challenges faced by adolescents in South Africa, including mental health issues, substance abuse, and early and unprotected sex,” she added.

Dr Owusu emphasised the importance of Minister Tolashe’s role, noting that the minister’s appointment as a SheDecides champion signifies South Africa’s unwavering commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment.

“Her leadership at the commission will reinforce our advocacy for bodily autonomy and sexual and reproductive health and rights, ensuring that women and girls have the right to decide freely about their own lives,” she said.