“Advocating and agitating for women’s justice is non-negotiable” – Unisa Vice-Chancellor

Speaking at the International Women’s Day Lecture held at Unisa on 04 March 2025, Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor (VC), Professor Puleng LenkaBula said: “It is our responsibility, as scholars, as professionals, as administrative staff, to constantly advocate for sexual harassment policies, for gender justice policies, for gender equity policies in the university’s system so that the violence that our forebears have experienced will not be meted out to future communities”.

Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Puleng LenkaBula (third from left), and guest speakers at the International Women’s Day Lecture

Hosted by the Unisa Women’s Forum (UWF) in collaboration with South African Women in Dialogue (SAWID), the 2025 International Women’s Day Lecture was held under the theme “For all women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment”. This year marked the 50^th anniversary of the United Nations’ declaration of International Women’s Year in 1975, at which International Women’s Day was commemorated by the United Nations for the first time. This year also sees the 30^th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which is universally recognised as the most comprehensive and visionary plan ever created to achieve equal rights for all women and girls.

The roots of International Women's Day can be traced back to the early 20^th century, when the labour movement protested against poor working conditions amid rapid industrialisation. In showcasing the progress made since then, LenkaBula paid homage to great leaders such as Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Lilian Ngoyi, Albertina Sisulu, Helen Suzman, Miriam Makeba, and many others who inspire the next generation to constantly being dedicated to changing our society.    

“This building in which we are gathered is named after Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, a great woman who fought for the liberation of this country, sometimes in a very contradictory environment. This serves as a reminder that we do not have any option other than to continue to advocate and agitate for justice for women, for our society’s freedom, and for economic justice,” said the VC.

LenkaBula further quoted from world economic development data which states that it will take until 2158 to achieve full gender parity. She continued: “This statistic should not alarm us but rather serve as a powerful motivator, urging us to accelerate our efforts to meaningful action in achieving the theme of  International Women’s Day 2025”.

In her keynote address, Judge Dr Sanji Monageng, Special Advisor to the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC), reflected on the roles of international courts, tribunals, regional courts and commissions in advancing the rights of women and girls.  “Over the years, the International Criminal Court has made significant strides in recognising and prosecuting crimes that disproportionately affect women, such as rape, sexual slavery, and forced pregnancy,” Monageng said.

Judge Dr Sanji Monageng, Special Advisor to the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC)

Addressing the question of how far the international legal system and human rights law system have evolved in their protection of rights of women and girls in terms of military conflict and in times of peace,  Monageng said: “One of the most significant judicial contributions to gender justice came from the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). Established in 1994 by the United Nations Security Council through Resolution 955, the ICTR was mandated to prosecute individuals responsible for genocide and serious violations of international humanitarian law. It was based in Arusha, Tanzania, and played a groundbreaking role in recognising rape as a crime against humanity and a war crime.”

Monageng also noted that the ICC is credited with developing groundbreaking jurisprudence on rape as a crime against humanity and a war crime, through its landmark judgment in the case of the Prosecutor v. Akayesu on September 2, 1998. “As of July 2024, the ICC has charged 54 individuals with crimes of humanity and genocide, and witness intimidation”, said Monageng.

Linda Vilakazi from SAWID said: “As we approach International Women’s Day on 08 March 2025, let’s take a moment to reflect on what we have accomplished so far and what is yet to be done, in particular regarding the advancement gained since the Beijing Conference 30 years ago where African women showed up and held space to ensure that girls’ rights are recognised as human rights, and that women’s economic, health and safety rights are acknowledge by the government”.

She continued: “Let us be reminded of what happens when we abdicate the responsibility for our growth and emancipation solely to those in power”.

Concluding the event in a panel discussion Advocate Zandile Mshololo of the Ilembe Group of Advocates called for solidarity among women, particularly in professional environments, where women must support each other rather than perpetuate harmful behaviours that undermine collective empowerment.

(From left) Advocate Zandile Mshololo, Ilembe Group of Advocates, Judge Dr Sanji Monageng, Special Advisor to the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC), Advocate Thando Gumede, rights defender, lawyer, thought leader, and social entrepreneur, and Dr Maureen Tong from the Office of the Principal and Vice-Chancellor

Mshololo reflected on her personal legal journey, emphasising the importance of justice and integrity in advocating for vulnerable populations, and she urged continuous action towards global gender justice.

She concluded: “Women empowerment has taken us to different places in order to fight for justice, not fight one another. The implementation of the International Criminal Court ensures that justice is enforceable everywhere, although there are persistent challenges  that still remain.”

* By Rememberance Manganyi, Journalist Intern, Department of Institutional Advancement

** Photography by Shooheima Champion, Multimedia Centre