Youth summit urged to prioritise gender equality

Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma encouraged delegates at the BRICS Youth Summit to pay particular attention to attaining gender mainstreaming and parity.

“Such a stance is not only in pursuit of social justice but several studies suggest a strong correlation between a country’s progress in closing the gender gap and its economic competitiveness,” Dlamini-Zuma said, alluding to United Nations Women statistics which show that women get paid 23 percent less than men.

The BRICS Youth Summit was held under the theme "Radical Economic Transformation – Making the BRICS Work for Youth", in Bela Bela, Limpopo, in July.

The Minister said BRICS countries must make the most of the resources around them.

“All our nations are surrounded by the oceans and seas and all have fertile waterways and rivers. However, very little has been said about this advantage. It is therefore imperative that our mooted skills revolution considers this and other areas, including the areas that will further equip our societies with capabilities in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) areas,” she said.

Dlamini-Zuma called on delegates to come up with concrete and time-bound youth-oriented actions towards a youth-driven skills revolution, which will further equip the BRICS nations to take advantage of the fourth industrial revolution in the areas of our comparative and competitive advantages.