The FW de Klerk Foundation Celebrates Women, Highlights Women Need Safety to Prosper

8 August 2024

The FW de Klerk Foundation wishes to highlight South African women’s continued struggle for safety as we celebrate this Women’s Day. “The Foundation believes that achieving a safe country for women is imperative if South Africa wants to achieve economic parity”, says Daniela Ellerbeck, an attorney and the FW de Klerk Foundation’s Constitutional Programmes Manager.

“The Foundation’s Human Rights Report Card shows that men still made up 67% of those in management positions in 2022. Moreover, 650 000 of the 806 000 employers were men. What are the barriers to entry that cause women to remain under-represented in decision-making roles in the economy?”, continues Ellerbeck.

“The Foundation believes a major one is safety”, states Ellerbeck. Women globally often face rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment when trying to pursue economic opportunities. In South Africa, women continue to bear the brunt of violent crimes. This comes as no surprise, as South Africa’s battle against Gender-based Violence is well known.

“Until we succeed in making it safe for women when they are trying to participate in the economy, the problem of gender inequality in the economy will persist”, states Ellerbeck.

Issued by FW de Klerk Foundation, 8 August 2024