South African Consul General in Mumbai commemorates Women at Model UN

Andrea Kühn, South African Consul General

9 August 2022

The Hiranandani Foundation School in Mumbai held the 11th edition of the HFS Model United Nations 2022 program. South African Consul General Andrea Kühn was a guest speaker and she was honoured to engage the students and share thoughts on global challenges.

The Model United Nations is an academic simulation of the United Nations where students play the role of delegates from different countries and attempt to solve real world issues with the policies and perspectives of their assigned country. It offers students an opportunity to research and debate international topics together, and learn how the United Nations and other international and regional bodies function.

Speech by Consul General Andrea Kühn

5 AUGUST 2022

Thank you for the honour to participate in this august event today. It is a great pleasure as an African female diplomat to be given the opportunity to address you today as we are celebrating Women’s Month in SA in the month of August.

During August we pay tribute to women in South Africa and the role they played in our liberation struggle and we celebrate also their achievements. On 8 August 1956, 20 000 women marched to the seat of power – the Union Buildings in Pretoria - to protest against the brutal and inhumane policies of the apartheid government.

The 1956 Women’s March was one of the largest demonstrations staged in South Africa’s history. The women of South Africa collectively on this day sent out a resounding message that they would not be intimidated and silenced by unjust laws.

South Africa’s Constitution and Legislation is recognised as one of the most gender equal in the world.

So where does this come from?

South Africa is a multifaceted, multicultural and multiracial country that embraces the concept of Ubuntu as a way of defining who we are and how we relate to others. Ubuntu means ‘humanity’ and is reflected in the idea that we affirm our humanity when we affirm the humanity of others. The philosophy of Ubuntu is the recognition of South Africa’s interconnectedness and interdependence. It has played a major role in the forging of a South African national consciousness.

It informs our particular approach to diplomacy and shape our vision of a better world for all. This philosophy translates into an approach to international relations that respects all nations, peoples and cultures. It recognises that it is in our national interest to promote and support the positive development of others. Similarly, national security would therefore depend on the centrality of human security as a universal goal, based on the principle of Batho Pele (putting people first).

In the modern world of globalisation, a constant element is and has to be our common humanity. We therefore champion collaboration, cooperation and building partnerships over conflict. This recognition of our interconnectedness and interdependency, and the infusion of Ubuntu into the South African identity, shapes our foreign policy.

To sum it up - It is South Africa’s aspiration for a peaceful, prosperous and united Africa in a just and equitable world.
The pillars of our foreign policy include the following:
• To Accord central importance to southern Africa and the African continent,
• To Work with countries of the Global South, including India, to address shared challenges of underdevelopment and to promote global equity and social justice;
• To Work with countries of the North to develop a true and effective partnership for a better world;
• and lastly to contribute in strengthening the multilateral system, including its reform and transformation to respond to the challenges of the day.

In this regard, South Africa took up a leading role in various multilateral fora, including SADC, the AU, NAM, G77+China, the Commonwealth, G20 and the United Nations to champion the cause of developing countries and Africa in particular. We also share membership with India in the formations of the global South including BRICS, IBSA and IORA.

Since 1994, when South Africa took its rightful place in the United Nations after the historic democratic elections, we have served three terms as non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) namely from 2007-2008, 2011-2012 and the period 2019-2020. During these terms South Africa promoted peace and security with the emphasis on Africa and improving cooperation between the UNSC and regional organisations such as the AU Peace and Security Council.

South Africa’s third term on the UN Security Council had the specific focus to build on President Nelson Mandela’s legacy of working towards a peaceful, just and prosperous world, and by serving as a bridge-builder, bringing together divergent perspectives and resolving impasses, which undermine the ability of the Council to act where needed.

It should be noted that 60 percent of the UNSC agenda is on African issues. It was therefore important that our third term coincided with South Africa’s chairship of the African Union (AU) in 2020. It was also in this year that we celebrated the 20th anniversary of Security Council Resolution 1325 that acknowledges the important role that women play in the resolution of conflicts. During our term as non-permanent member of the UNSC Resolution 2493 on Women, Peace and Security was unanimously adopted. The resolution recognizes that women continue to be marginalised in peace processes and also continue to be amongst those most affected by the devastating consequences of conflict.

South Africa has been elected to Chair the Commission on the Status of Women for the 66th and 67th sessions in 2022 and 2023 and will use this opportunity to champion the acceleration of gender equality following the fifth Beijing review in 2020 which revealed that despite some progress, real change has been slow, and no country can claim to have achieved gender equality almost 26 years after the adoption of Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 1995.

The world recently witnessed the devastating impact of the covid pandemic and specifically on the most vulnerable in society. The pandemic deepened pre-existing inequalities, exposing vulnerabilities in social, political and economic systems which in turn amplified the impacts of the pandemic.

Across every sphere, from health to the economy, security to social protection, the impacts of COVID-19 were exacerbated for women and girls simply by virtue of their sex.

Domestic initiatives to promote women empowerment and equality includes the Charlotte Maxeke African Women's Economic Justice and Rights (AWERJ) Initiative - which is a practical expression of our diplomacy of Ubuntu. It is an affirmation and a validation of women’s economic justice rights as fundamental human rights. South Africa recognizes that while more efforts have gone to advocating for the civil and political rights of women, the economic rights of women and girls have been largely neglected. It is for this reason that South Africa chose to focus its efforts under the Generation Equality Forum on Economic Justice and Rights.

This is complemented by the African Women's Leadership Training Programme on Economic Justice and Rights that provide African women leaders the opportunity to provide insight on Economic Justice and Rights as well as the Fellowship for African Women in Diplomacy programme. South Africa also remains active in promoting the programmes of the AU as it fully recognizes the critical importance of advancing gender equality and women empowerment to contribute to economic growth and sustainable development.

South Africa is an influential player on the African continent and in the global world and aim to increase the voice and representation of Africa in all global bodies and will continue to use our voice and access to include African and the developing world views on global agendas.
South Africa’s history requires of us to continue to be the defenders of human rights. We have been called upon to assist in brokering several conflicts in the sub- region and African continent. South Africa considers that, guided by the spirit of justice and fairness, the international community can ensure sustainable social and economic development for all. This can be achieved through building on the international human solidarity, which is one of the fundamental values essential to international relations in the 21st century. It emphasises that global solutions should be found to global problems through global cooperation. Born of this international solidarity, South Africa will continue to champion international cooperation to find lasting solutions to global challenges.

In conclusion, I wish to invite you to join our celebrations of women and their critical contribution to create a better world for all, as we also fully recognize that many gaps remain and that we all need to scale up our commitment to ensure gender equality and women empowerment.
The theme of this year’s celebration is: “Women’s Socio-Economic Rights and Empowerment: Building Back Better for Women’s Improved Resilience.”

As I am looking at you I see India’s future and hope to meet you as a counterpart and colleague in the halls of the United Nations or the capitals of the world as we join hands to create a better world for all under the premise that we will leave no one behind.

I thank you and wish you all the best for a successful Model UN.