Despite promising progress in some countries, social and legal discrimination against women remains a major obstacle to economic development in emerging and developing countries around the globe, South African Chief Justice, Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng, has observed.
Justice Mogoeng was speaking at the Nelson Mandela Centenary Lecture held at the University of Botswana Conference Centre on August 10, 2018. He anchored his lecture on Mandela’s ideals of a just society quoting profusely from the global icon that overcoming poverty was not a gesture of charity but an act of justice.
Justice Mogoeng decried the level of poverty in Africa, arguing that such derived from an unjust society which was further compounded by an entrenched discrimination of women. He said despite successes in raising awareness and setting standards, very little had changed in the actual lives of most women. Only a few women, he noted, had benefited from such changes. However, for the vast majority, violence against women remained a taboo issue, invisible in society and a shameful fact of life, lamented the Chief Justice.
Justice Mogoeng wondered why male violence against women still existed in 2018. “Why is the most dangerous place for a woman her own home?” he asked. Justice Mogoeng further asked why society was still unequal. He said oppression and discrimination of women by men still prevailed while men were seen as superior to women.
“Such inequalities lead to domestic violence, trafficking and exploitation,” warned Justice Mogoeng.
Incidentally, Justice Mogoeng noted some progress in reducing discrimination against women in Rwanda and South Africa and attributed such to the introduction of political quotas that led to a greater representation of women in politics. South Africa and Germany are among countries where the social and legal status of women improved considerably over the past years because they have introduced landmark reforms.
Nonetheless, Justice Mogoeng said countries with higher levels of discrimination against women performed poorly on a range of development indicators, including employment, female labour force participation, education for girls and child and maternal mortality rates.
“One important area where women constantly face massive inequalities is in the labour market. In working life, women all over the world are confronted with higher rates of unemployment, fewer possibilities for a career, and lower wages,” said Justice Mogoeng
In achieving equality and justice for all, Justice Mogoeng advised leaders to investment in women’s empowerment, as well as a cultural change in mind-sets so that women’s equality was a given in all societies as well as ending poverty and ensuring a life of dignity for all.
He also advised leaders to stand up and take collective responsibility for humanity’s current failings. Justice Mogoeng encouraged leaders to engage communities and youth to take action to end conflicts, injustice, inequality, corruption to ensure true inclusive democracy, peace and prosperity for all through dialogue.