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Governor General Jean praises strides by African women but says more must be done
Published: Wednesday, December 6, 2006 | 12:12 PM ET
Canadian Press: CELEAN JACOBSON
SOWETO, South Africa (AP) - African women are playing larger
and larger roles in the continent's business and political affairs, but
there is still work to be done, Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean said Wednesday.
Speaking to the Businesswomen's Association in Johannesburg's
historically black suburb of Soweto, Jean praised the entrepreneurial
spirit she had seen among African women and confirmed Canada's
commitment to small business development.
"I have met so many women who, thanks to a small loan, through
micro-finance were able to create jobs, to make a profit, to reimburse
their loan and to become financially autonomous while improving the
living conditions of their families and their communities," she said.
Jean also praised South Africa for its commitment to gender equity in
government and business.
"I was very impressed to learn that 30 per cent of the cabinet and
the legislature are women. It is higher than many other countries,
including mine," she told an audience that included two of South
Africa's women cabinet members - Buyelwa Sonjica, minister of minerals
and energy, and Sue van der Merwe, deputy minister of foreign affairs.
Last year, Jean, a 49-year-old former journalist, became the first
black and third woman to be appointed Canada's governor general. The
Haitian-born Jean is in South Africa as part of a five-country tour to
cement ties between Canada and Africa.
With thanks: original site created by Kelly Mannix. Maintained and updated by Nina Cherington.
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