South African Pres Urges Women Leaders to Partake in Geopolitics

• President Cyril Ramaphosa invited women leaders to discuss worldwide transformations and take a collective position
• He spoke at the International Women's Forum with 800 women leaders from 30

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa urged women leaders to take up the changing global political landscape, and decide on a shared perspective on the most pressing issues confronting the world.

He addressed the IWF conference in Cape Town, which gathered almost 800 women leaders and experts from more than 30 countries, in a period of increased challenges to counter multilateralism, called on women to assume a leading role on new models of international cooperation and collaboration.

Cyril told the conference that this was the time for all women in leadership to address relevant global concerns, and to prepare for future opportunities.

 He warned that there is growing backlash against progress on human rights, gender equality, and women's empowerment in countries across the globe.

The IWF Conference operated under the theme "Ubuntu: I am because we are", and discussed the shifting geo-political environment, the rise of artificial intelligence and the place of the arts and culture within global development.

Cyril acknowledged the people in the space were innovators and change-makers who will take action to create equitable and decent growth.

He matched the objectives of the forum to the G20 Presidency objectives of solidarity, equality and sustainability.

The recent G20 report on global inequality and concerted efforts of Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz, specified that from 2000-2024, the highest earning one contingent of the population took away 41 percent of all new wealth generated, while the bottom half earned a dismal 1 percent. The report also noted that inequality stifles women’s access to education, representation, and pay equity.

Cyril reiterated that women's empowerment will remain one of the key objectives of the G20 agenda. He also stated the recent G20 Women's Empowerment Ministers meeting in Gauteng was focused on issues such as the care economy, access for women to finance and digital technology, and gender-based violence and femicide.

The conference was informed by Cyril that now was the time for women in leadership to address global issues of concern and position themselves for the future.

He cautioned there is an increasing backlash against rights improvements, gender equality, and women's empowerment in regions around the world.

The theme for the IWF Conference was Ubuntu: I am because we are, and topics of discussion included the shifting geo-political landscape, the rise of artificial intelligence, and the role of arts and culture in global development.