Letsike Urges G20 to Turn Gender Equality Commitments Into Global Action

As the Third Technical Meeting of the G20 Empowerment of Women Working Group (EWWG) concluded this week, Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Steve Letsike, made an impassioned appeal to G20 member states: turn promises into policy, and policy into action.

Delivering the closing remarks on Thursday, Letsike commended the depth and intensity of discussions, which she described as purposeful, complex, and necessary in the global effort to advance gender equality. While acknowledging progress, she emphasized that only concrete steps and systemic accountability would drive transformational change for women and girls worldwide.

“This meeting has been a powerful space of shared purpose,” said Letsike. “We have engaged in thoughtful and sometimes difficult conversations, recognising that the path toward gender equality requires not only commitment, but concrete action and accountability.”

Addressing Root Inequalities: From Care Work to Financial Access

The multi-day gathering—held under the banner of South Africa’s G20 Presidency—focused on three interlinked thematic priorities:

1. The Care Economy

2. Financial Inclusion

3. Gender-Based Violence and Femicide

Each theme underscored the entrenched social, economic, and institutional barriers that impede women’s advancement globally.

Letsike called for the recognition and reward of care work, both paid and unpaid, noting that such labour—often performed by women—underpins economies yet remains undervalued.

“Care work is the backbone of our societies and economies. Elevating this sector is not just a gender issue—it is an economic imperative,” she said.

She supported adoption of the 5R framework (Recognise, Reduce, Redistribute, Represent, and Reward care work) as a global guideline for transforming care systems and labour policies.

Financial Inclusion Framework Launched Under SA Presidency

A notable highlight from the meeting was the unveiling of an action plan for financial inclusion, developed under South Africa’s G20 leadership. The framework outlines key pillars, strategic action areas, and evidence-based initiatives aimed at closing the gender gap in access to financial tools, credit, and digital services.

“This framework will assist in ensuring systemic reform, institutional accountability, and policy innovation rooted in lived experiences,” said Letsike.

She lauded this outcome as a tangible legacy of South Africa’s G20 Presidency, signalling a shift from discussion to implementation.

Gender-Based Violence: A Global Emergency

The technical meeting also took a firm stance against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), which remains a global human rights crisis. The closed sessions highlighted key mechanisms for tackling GBVF through:

• Prevention via education and social norm transformation

• Protection through survivor-centered services and shelters

• Prosecution by strengthening laws and legal frameworks

Discussions emphasized the criminalization of harmful behaviors, private sector responsibility, and community-driven health and safety solutions. Speakers called for integrated global governance, stronger international cooperation, and multi-stakeholder engagement, especially from men and boys.

“No society can claim to be just or equal while women live in fear or lose their lives because they are women,” Letsike asserted.

Building Consensus, Shaping Legacy

Deputy Minister Letsike reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to a G20 approach grounded in consensus and inclusivity, stating that the outputs from the EWWG sessions would shape the forthcoming Ministerial Declaration, due for adoption in October 2025.

“Through open dialogue and collaboration, we have reaffirmed our shared vision of a more inclusive and accessible world,” she said.

The meeting brought together senior government officials, G20 sherpas and partners, civil society representatives, academics, and international organisations—all aligned in their resolve to build an equitable world for women and girls.

Next Steps and Broader Impact

The knowledge products generated during this technical session—including policy briefs, the financial inclusion framework, and the care economy agenda—will inform national legislation, budgeting, and development plans in G20 member states.

South Africa’s leadership within the EWWG also continues to engage grassroots communities, ensuring that the voices of rural women, informal workers, youth, and persons with disabilities are not only heard but meaningfully integrated into policy-making.

The EWWG’s work, part of South Africa’s G20 Presidency running until 30 November 2025, reflects the broader global mission of transformative, people-centred development.

“We must be bold in the steps we take. The time for symbolic gestures has passed. It is time for durable change,” Letsike concluded.