Gender equality starts at home- Dlamini Zuma

South Africa’s Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has emphasised the country’s commitment to gender equality, noting that the negative reinforcement of gender stereotypes must be tackled in every home.

Speaking at the launch of the 2010 SADC Gender Protocol Barometer at the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence launch in Pretoria, she noted that “Gender equality begins in our homes.”

The international theme for this year’s Sixteen Days of Activism is “Structures of Violence: Defining the intersections of Militarism and Violence against Women” a fitting backdrop for the launch of the Alliance gender peace and security cluster.

At the evening launch of the Barometer during the Institute for Security Studies cluster workshop (see cluster news) on 22 November Dlamini-Zuma said the Alliance is a clear demonstration of civil society playing its important watchdog role and reinforced her personal commitment to gender equality in South Africa and the region.

She noted that women are often guilty of not affirming one another, reinforcing gender stereotypes in the manner in which they raise children. She observed that the boy child is given preferential treatment in the family, urging parents to treat their children equally and provide equal opportunities.

She further challenged women to break out of their shells and begin to step forward and claim positions of power and leadership.