18 MAY 2022
The Minister of Social Development, Ms Lindiwe Zulu has been appointed as a global champion for SheDecides, a global and diverse movement driving change to ensure that every woman, girl and young person has the right to decide about their body, life and future. The movement brings together government, civil society, media and donors to Stand UP and to Speak out for bodily autonomy and sexual and reproductive health and rights.
As the SheDecides Champion, Minister Zulu is expected to advocate for political action that advances the fundamental right of girls and women everywhere to enjoy their bodies, to make their own choices, to have access to comprehensive sexuality education and the full range of quality care that unite all parts of her sexual and reproductive life and health.
“I welcome the opportunity to join forces with other SheDecides Champions across the globe to advance an agenda that promotes and protects girls and women’s right to make their own choices, including exercising the right to gender identity without any fear of violence. I accepted the responsibility to be part of this global movement because its strategic focus complements ongoing initiatives by Government to address key population and development challenges such as the unacceptably high level of teenage pregnancies, gender-based violence and femicide, forced child marriages in some parts of our country and hate crimes against members of the LGBTIQ+ communities”, said Minister Zulu.
Minister Zulu will be officially introduced as a Champion at the SheDecides+5, an event to be held from 19-20 May 2022 at Egmont Palace, Brussels- Belgium to mark the 5th anniversary of the founding of the movement. Minister Zulu is attending the event in her other capacity as the Chairperson of Partners in Population and Development (PPD), an intergovernmental initiative created specifically for the purpose of expanding and improving South-to-South collaboration in the field of reproductive health, population, and development.
On Friday, 20 May 2022 Minister will chair the NEXUS Initiative Roundtable High-Level Discussion which is composed of regional intergovernmental groups to mobilise global support, strengthen advocacy and coordination on sexual and reproductive health and rights agenda.
Minister Zulu is currently a member of the High-Level Commission on Nairobi Summit on ICPD.
ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
