The 2026 Women’s Parliament has called for accelerated action to advance gender equality, strengthen accountability and ensure that commitments to women’s rights translate into tangible improvements in the lives of women and girls throughout South Africa.
The call follows two days of deliberations in Kimberley, Northern Cape, on 13 and 14 August, where 273 delegates from across the country reflected on the progress made since the historic women’s march of 1956 and confronted the persistent challenges facing women today.
At the conclusion of the gathering, participants adopted a declaration calling for stronger parliamentary oversight, implementation monitoring and public accountability to ensure that commitments to gender equality are effectively implemented. The declaration reaffirms the legacy of the women of 1956 and the continued relevance of the Women’s Charter, the Constitution, the National Development Plan, the Medium-Term Development Plan, the Beijing Platform for Action, the Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2063.
Key commitments of the Women’s Parliament
The declaration calls for:
Gender-responsive planning and budgeting, with stronger enforcement of gender-responsive monitoring and evaluation, and consequence management where commitments are not met. It emphasises that commitments to women must be backed by budgets, implementation plans, measurable outcomes and accountability.
Greater economic empowerment for women, including improved access to land, property, finance, water, agricultural support, markets and business registration. It calls for the full inclusion of women with disabilities and meaningful participation by women in rural and urban areas in policymaking.
Stronger protection from gender-based violence and femicide, poverty, substance abuse, teenage pregnancy and secondary victimisation. The declaration calls for gender-sensitivity training for SAPS officials, accessible survivor services throughout the criminal justice system, family-law reforms and stronger regulation of alcohol-related harm.
Greater participation by women in climate action, including climate-change responses, disaster management, climate resilience and the oceans economy, within a broader climate-justice framework.
Digital and educational inclusion, including affordable broadband, access to devices and digital public services, alongside opportunities for women and girls in coding, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data skills, STEM, technical and vocational education, entrepreneurship, scholarships and mentorship.
Stronger accountability and public participation, through partnerships with civil society, women’s empowerment groups and public institutions. The declaration recognises sectoral parliaments as platforms for sharing lived experiences, monitoring progress, reporting on implementation and identifying practical solutions.
From commitments to action
The Women’s Parliament made clear that achieving gender equality requires more than policy commitments. It requires practical action, adequate resources, measurable progress and accountable leadership.
The declaration will be circulated among participants and supported through legislatures and sectoral platforms, reinforcing the shared responsibility of Parliament, government, civil society, business and communities to advance equality, dignity and justice for women across South Africa.
The challenge following the two-day gathering is therefore to ensure that the commitments adopted in Kimberley move beyond the declaration and translate into measurable change in the lives of women and girls.
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