Showcasing women in power, leadership and their contributions made to society was the aim behind the success of the (IPM) Institute of People Management’s, 20th Women’s Convention which was recently held at the Durban University of Technology’s Ritson Hall.
Women rights, their journey to leadership and equality were the main topics of discussion at the convention. The event reflected on what individuals, organisations and cultural groups had done to promote equality and women empowerment, 20 years into South Africa’s democracy.
Nobel peace prize nominee and women rights activist, Shabnam Hashmi and Charlotte Mokoena, former IPM National President and HR Executive ofTongaat Hulett, two of the key speakers, graced the convention. Shabnam Hashmi shared her thoughts on her determination to fight for women’s rights in India and took the audience on a tour of her life with tales of violence against women and children in India, showcasing the harsh realities of abuse which continues to occur on a daily basis.
“Women’s equality is important because that is the journey between women empowerment and women’s equality that needs to be covered. This journey is what all organisations, cultures and people need to travel,” she said.
Hashmi, who is the founder of Act Now for Harmony and Democracy, said that people needed to stand up to advocate for policy shift that would accommodate women and erase social divisions.
Another key speaker, Thato Tsautse, Maritime attorney and Managing Director of Tsautse Bayi, echoed Hashmi’s sentiments, saying that not enough mechanisms and strategies were in place to tackle inequality and to push for women empowerment.
“Each and every one of us has to be given the opportunity of being able to do something that will help the community. We need to stand up and say that there are policies that we need to undo and there are policies that we need to put in place to empower women. We need to be able to embrace principles of universalism,” she stressed.
Some of the reflections made by the key speakers during the convention reiterated that although there was a lot more to be done for women empowerment, progress had been made in some circles of society.
Prof Bawa, who was also in attendance, said, “In the South African system, 58% of students who are studying are women and 42% are men. More importantly if one looks at the graduation rates that balance shifts even more. We have made some tremendous gains in getting women into higher education, getting women into positions where they can begin to lead society.”
Other speakers at the conference included Anne Dreyer-Image Consultant, Sylvia Walker – Marketing Manager from Old Mutual and Liza Gresse-Director of uBuhle HR and Management Consultants. The women guests were also treated to a glitzy fashion show by DUT’s
Fashion design students.
– Gift Nyamapfene
Pictured: Prof Ahmed Bawa, Dr Anshu Padaychee and Shabnam Hashmi at the
IPM Women’s Convention.
