PRETORIA - Nobel Peace laureate Malala Yousafzai said the historic 1956 Women’s March inspired her.
She was among the speakers at this year’s National Women’s Day celebrations.
The event was held the Union Buildings in Pretoria, where the over 20,000 women marched to in 1956.
“It took incredible courage to speak out in 1956, four decades before the end of apartheid and the risks were greatest for black South African women, as they still are today, who faced not only the racial discrimination of apartheid, but the added burdens of being women in a patriarchal society. Yet they chose to lead and demanded to be seen. It is their legacy of courage that brings me back to South Africa today,” she said.
Yousafzai said a visit to Constitution Hill a few days ago reminded her of Afghanistan.
“Afghanistan is a place where women are sent to prison for the same defiance we honour here today.
“Last year, your government declared gender-based violence and femicide a national disaster in South Africa and introduced programes and legislation to combat it.
“This year, the Taliban declared it legal for a man to beat his wife or daughter. For five years, the Taliban has been erasing women and girls from public life. Excusing these abuses under the banner of culture or religion. This is not culture. It is not religion. It is a system of segregation and domination. We must call the Taliban regime by its true name, gender apartheid,” she said.