Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi was appointed Democratic Governance Director at UNDP's Bureau for Development Policy (BDP) in January 2009. Throughout her career, Fraser-Moleketi has struggled against inequality. After the collapse of the apartheid regime, she worked as a parliamentarian and a minister to improve the conditions of South African women.

Fraser-Moleketi’s life took a decisive turn as she joined ANC in 1980. “I realized that ANC’s values form a sound basis for continuous social change in South Africa”. Facing economic and political turmoil in the 1980’s, the government was forced to negotiate with the opposition. The negotiations resulted in the legalisation of ANC in 1990. “International solidarity and support played a vital role in our struggle. Yet, outsiders can never deliver freedom, only citizens can make a revolution.”

South Africa’s progressive constitution led the way for democratic reform. “The constitution was an important step forward and a clear break with the past. Although racism was banned in the new constitution, attitudes change slowly. This is likely to require the efforts of an entire generation”

Although women can vote and are eligible to run in elections almost everywhere in the world, women politicians still constitute a clear minority. In African countries such as Tanzania and Uganda, the share of women in the public sector has been consciously increased. “One of the most important breakthroughs is Africa’s first elected female president, Liberia’s Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who has become an inspiration to women across the continent.”

“Women have to be more persistent than men, since they face greater challenges and their performance is scrutinized more closely. Women should not seize upon every pettiness, as prejudice against women will remain for a long time.”

A prerequisite for increasing political activism among women is the overall improvement of women’s position in society. According to the UN, 70 per cent of the 1.3 billion people suffering from extreme poverty are women.

In many developing countries poverty and lacking health care mainly affect women. This should be considered already in the planning stage of development projects”, Fraser-Moleketi points out.

”Also men are needed to change the standing of women, as gender equality is essentially a matter of attitudes. Change can be achieved only if the society as a whole stands behind it.” On the other hand, women too have a responsibility for changing attitudes. Child rearing is still essentially a task for women, in developing countries in particular. “Women pass on their values to the next generation and this is where we have to look in the mirror.”

Please note that this is a English summary of the interview with Ms. Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi published in the Finnish foreign policy quarterly Ulkopolitiikka.