The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) handed over the Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality Strategy (WEGE) to the Eastern Cape Province. This marked one of the greatest achievements by the province to empower women and girls to realize their sexual and reproductive health and rights. This strategy was handed over to the province alongside the findings of the study on African Cultural Practices and rites of passage undergone by adolescent girls and young women in three Joint Programme districts, two of these districts are in the Eastern Cape Province (Alfred Nzo and Nelson Mandela district).
The UNFPA Country Representative Mr. Yu Yu congratulated the Eastern Cape province, appreciating decades of long collaboration on population and development. He further congratulated the Eastern Cape for its strong political commitment to a provincial strategy and a M&E Framework on WEGE, which is fundamental to sustainable development. He further acknowledged the achievements by South Africa in advancing WEGE as part of the 30 years of Democracy and looked forward to continuing partnership to the accountable implementation of the strategy.
He highlighted that South Africa is amongst the top 20 countries globally on gender equality and that the development and implementation of this strategy will strengthen gender equality across the province. Mr. Yu also underscored the improvement in the education outcomes for 2023 by the Eastern Cape, amidst the challenges faced by young people including teenage fertility, malnutrition and gender- based violence and called for stronger partnerships for women's empowerment and gender equality.
A call to action from an OR Tambo district survivor of child marriage at the age 15 for government, community and traditional leaders and development partners to support adolescent girls and youth was stated. She further reinforced the call to include the prevention of child marriage “uKuthwala” with a strong focus on education and health service access to better prepare them for future opportunities and economic contribution to South Africa.
The Member of Executive Council (MEC) Honourable Sibulele Ngongo welcomed the contribution of UNFPA in developing the comprehensive strategy which aims to empower women, including elements of economic empowerment. She further denounced child marriages and how it undermines human rights and poses a challenge to democracy and human rights.
The handover of the Eastern Cape Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality Strategy 2025-2030 was a significant milestone in the province's commitment to fostering an inclusive, equitable future for all. The handover was not just a celebration of progress but a call to action for sustained collaboration, innovation, and accountability to create lasting change for generations to come.
