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Article

3 Sep 2015

Author:
Pregs Govender, SAHRC Commissioner in Pambazuka News (Africa)

So. Africa: NHRI interrogates gendered impact of food systems, impacts on women of corporate deregulation

'Wathint'abafazi, wathint' imbokodo: the promise of bread and roses', 3 Sep 2015:…Unconsciousness blinds [people]…to the contributions women make and…peaceful protests they stage when all their efforts to secure clean water, decent toilets, housing or healthcare receive no response…The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) focus on the gendered impact of...food system[s] builds on lessons from its water and sanitation campaign…[which] identified…that 95 per cent of rural water is owned by less than 2 per cent...(those who own mining, agribusiness and other corporations)…[T]he SAHRC convened…[w]omen who are...farmers, farm-workers and traders…trade unionists and other civil society organisations…[to interrogate] gender-blind policies that reinforce gender stereotypes while undermining women’s contributions…The estimated 100 delegates agreed to…shape an advocacy campaign to...mobilise others...When corporations corrupt or collude with…elected representatives to advance their interests, a human rights campaign that strengthens solidarity is essential…The corporate push for governments to deregulate leaves workers, especially women…vulnerable to terrible working conditions and slave wages…[Refers to SABMiller, BAT, Monsanto]