REFILWE MEKOA
The Free State Legislature launched the women’s parliament on Thursday afternoon in Bloemfontein.
Ouma Tsopo, Speaker of the provincial legislature, says the Multi Party Women’s Caucus is to mobilise women from different parties to take a lead in supporting women’s projects. “This is to create a platform for women and vulnerable groups to interact and share their daily challenges. It will be women from different political parties,” she says.
Tsopo says the caucus is an important consultative forum. “We will discuss challenges that women confront in the province, promote equality before the law, human dignity, freedom of expression, non-racialism and non-sexism. We are creating a platform which is against patriarchal society,” she says.
The theme is “Dedicated Women influence the course of History” which focuses on social issues affecting girlchild-headed families and old women who live in rural areas. Tsopo says they will be visiting five municipal districts around the province. “We will take two days when we will hand out school shoes at schools around each district. We will also have debates where 18- to 25-year-old young women will discuss different issues with one another,” says Tsopo.
She believes that the programme will bring the legislature closer to the people. “It creates an opportunity for vulnerable groups and law makers to have transparent conversation about the challenges they are confronted with,” she says.
The legislature will also give out blankets to those who are over 100 years.
