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Via ASSAf - the Academy of Science of South Africa

Africa's Sex and Gender Equality in the Spotlight

The status of transformation towards sex and gender equality in Africa will be debated at a round-table discussion on 6 October 2016 as part of the Annual Young Scientists' Conference of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST).

Gender inequality is a global issue and remains a major barrier to development. In Africa it is a particular challenge with gender inequality costing sub-Saharan Africa on average $US95 billion a year, peaking at US$105 billion in 2014 - or six per cent of the region's GDP. This is jeopardising the continent's efforts towards inclusive human development and economic growth, according to the Africa Human Development Report 2016: Advancing Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment in Africa, published last month by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Despite growing recognition of the social and economic benefits that improvements towards equality in areas such as health, education, and workplace opportunities hold for the country and the region, the removal of inequalities has not kept pace. Significant gaps between men's and women's opportunities still exist and pose a severe impediment to economic and social transformation.

A number of eminent persons will participate in the round-table discussion which is open to the public. The discussion will be facilitated by Retired Judge Richard Goldstone and the panel will consist of Retired Judge Zak Yacoob, Prof Christof Heyns of the United Nations Human Rights Committee, Ms Janet Love, Executive Director of the Legal Resource Centre and Ms Shireen Said, Legal Advisor/Legal Strategist and former Policy Advisor for Human Rights at UNDP, New York.

Date: 6 October 2016

Venue: Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre, Boksburg, South Africa

Media enquiries:  Contact Edith Shikumo at Edith@assaf.org.za<mailto:Edith@assaf.org.za>