Former Minister of International relations, Dr Naledi Pandor, has called on women to join the fight against the ongoing humanitarian crisis plaguing the people of Palestine and other conflict-regions of the world.

Pandor, who addressed a Women20 (W20) gathering held in Krugersdorp on Monday, said world peace and the respect of international laws should be at the centre of discussions with all those leading the fight agenda against the Gaza genocide.

She said this is because wherever war emerges, children and women remain at the receiving end of war crimes and the humanitarian crisis.

“We must argue for multi-polarity as we face threats to reproductive rights, and groupings such as this should provide support against an onslaught on these rights. When nurses and hospitals are targeted in Gaza and other parts of the world, women bear the worst impact of this.  

“The W20 Summit and other women structures should be advocates for the freedom and security of Palestine, and we must go beyond rhetoric and truly participate and not be casual about lending our voices as women,” she said.

Pandor’s address coincided with the return of the final 20 surviving Israeli hostages, who had reportedly returned from Gaza to Israel in two separate groups, as part of a deal on Monday.

IOL reports that US President Donald Trump arrived in Israel for a trip which will also take him to Egypt, where he will co-host a Gaza summit with his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, to be attended by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The W20 Summit, has been hosted under the theme: “Women in Solidarity towards a Just Future”, and aims to advance gender equality and women’s economic empowerment by bringing together global leaders, researchers, policymakers, and civil society representatives.

Among those who attended were former deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and delegates from Egypt, Germany, Canada, Japan, Kenya, and other parts of the globe.

Pandor said women as observers of society should also participate at the highest level of leadership and influence the policy direction of organisations such as the African Union, BRICS, and other structures.

She said these structures are often led by men, who have not made any changes to issues affecting women and children.  

“Women should participate in and influence major organisations such as the United Nations, the African Union, and the BRICS, and should be in these organisations to encourage multilateralism. Some of our organisations are devoid of reforms.

“We need the voices of powerful women leaders, and our cooperation is needed. We cannot think this is for politicians. The tragic events of Palestine, Sudan, and the DRC do not receive currency, but they have to, if we are to create a world that protects the vulnerable, and those who are vulnerable to war crimes and genocide are mostly women.

“We need women to take up issues that threaten world peace, even though it is not women who start wars; their voice is needed,” she said.

siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za

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