National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza urged global legislators to protect vulnerable populations, especially women, children, and people with disabilities, emphasising gender equality in governance and humanitarian efforts.
“This year remains the year of gender equality and enjoins us to reflect the importance of promoting gender equality in our parliaments and in our nations,” Didiza said.
She was speaking on Monday at the 151st Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, held from October 19-23, 2025. The General Debate will focus on “Upholding humanitarian norms and supporting humanitarian action in times of crisis”.
Didiza emphasised the need to uphold humanitarian norms and support humanitarian action in crises, particularly for vulnerable populations.
“In upholding these humanitarian norms, we need to look at preventative measures that we must put in place before a humanitarian crisis emerges.”
Didiza highlighted the critical importance of humanitarian principles amid global instability and fragile peace.
“South Africa welcomes the continued peace initiatives to resolve the conflicts that continue in various regions of the world. We believe that dialogue is the cornerstone for finding lasting peace. We urge all parties to respect and uphold these peace agreements, not only as a political commitment but as a moral imperative. Too many lives have been lost, too many families torn apart. Let this be a turning point toward lasting peace and dignity.”
Reflecting on South Africa’s history of overcoming systemic injustice and conflict, Didiza said peace is not merely the absence of war, but the presence of justice, accountability, and compassion.
“Our commitment to international humanitarian law is rooted in our constitutional values and our lived experience. We stand in solidarity with all those who suffer the consequences of armed conflict and reaffirm our dedication to upholding humanitarian norms wherever they are threatened.”
Didiza challenged attendees to confront a pressing question: “Have we truly learned from the past?”
She noted that international humanitarian law, designed to govern armed conflict and protect civilians, is under severe strain due to repeated violations that undermine not just legal frameworks but the essence of human dignity.
Didiza announced South Africa’s initiation of the Global Initiative to Galvanize Political Commitment to International Humanitarian Law, developed in partnership with five other states and the International Committee of the Red Cross. The call for accountability has grown louder from the International Court of Justice and various UN bodies regarding war crimes and collective punishment.
“The failure to uphold international humanitarian law is not merely a legal issue but a moral failure and a political crisis. It is a failure to protect the most vulnerable, to preserve human dignity, and to uphold the principles that bind the international community,” Didiza said.
According to her, parliaments are crucial actors, not bystanders. They embody the rule of law, represent the populace, and are instrumental in upholding accountability. With powers of legislation, oversight, and budgetary control, parliaments can implement international humanitarian law domestically and hold governments and armed groups responsible for their actions.
Firstly, Didiza said parliaments must align national laws with international obligations by ratifying treaties, criminalising war crimes, and establishing investigative and prosecutorial mechanisms.
Secondly, parliaments must exercise robust oversight, demanding transparency in military operations, scrutinising defence budgets, and ensuring armed forces are trained in International Humanitarian Law.
Thirdly, parliaments must advocate for humanitarian access, collaborating with civil society and international organisations to remove aid barriers and protect aid workers.
Lastly, parliaments must translate summit outcomes into tangible results, specifically by advancing women’s participation in peacebuilding, climate resilience, and adaptation. Women are disproportionately affected by conflict and underrepresented in decision-making. Therefore, parliaments need to legislate gender-responsive climate policies, support women-led initiatives, and ensure women are central to recovery efforts.
“South Africa believes that the strength of humanitarian norms lies not only in their legal foundations but in their universal application. We must recommit to the principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence. Words must be matched by action, and laws must reflect our values and principles,” Didiza said.
