Opinion piece by Errol Naidoo; Family Policy Institute
South Africa observed “Women’s Day” on 9 Aug to recognise and honour the immense contribution of women in society. Tragically, however, millions of women still face persistent challenges of poverty, unemployment, single parent isolation, sexual exploitation and violence because of staggering rates of corruption and mismanagement of state resources.
The ANC led government “honour” women with holidays and empty platitudes while their destructive Marxist policies contribute to the widespread suffering of women. It endorses a legal sex-trade – the most exploitative and abusive human slave market in the world.
Sexploitation, abuse and violence against women have not diminished despite repeated promises from President Cyril Ramaphosa. In fact, the vast majority of perpetrators of crimes against women escape prosecution because of a failed criminal justice system.
Endemic family breakdown contribute to the social distress of women. Teen pregnancies and abortions amongst young women and girls have soared despite state endorsed “sex-ed” that provides more “sexual rights” indoctrination than common-sense guidance.
Thankfully, however, there is some good news. The US based Institute for Women’s Health (IWH) reports, “The US Government will once again lead an international pro-life and pro-family coalition of governments through the Geneva Consensus Declaration (GCD).”
“The GCD was launched in 2020 by the first Trump admin and a cross-regional group of nations from all continents. It is focused on international cooperation (not coercion) to improve women’s health through a pro-life, pro-family and pro-sovereignty approach.”
The GCD expressly affirms, “there is no international right to abortion, nor any international obligation on the part of States to finance or facilitate abortion” and that the family is “foundational to society and as a source of health, support and care.” Signatories pledge to work together to ensure the United Nations (UN) system respects these basic principles.
Despite the efforts of the Biden admin and the European Union to pressure nations to reject the GCD, the list of signatories have steadily expanded. Argentina is the latest nation to endorse the principles of the GCD – bringing the total list of signatories to 43 countries.
“The United States will carry this work forward through a whole-of-government effort led jointly by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of State,” U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced in a joint press statement this week.”
Feminists and other sexual rights groups pit women against men using terms like “toxic masculinity” to instigate resentment between the sexes. “Dismantle the patriarchy” is the rallying cry of radical feminists which include the call to dismantle marriage and the family.
However, the GCD Emphasises, “that equal rights, opportunities and access to resources and equal sharing of responsibilities for the family by men and women and a harmonious partnership between them are critical to their well-being and that of their families”
The GCD affirms “the dignity and worth of the human person. There is no internationally recognised right to abortion. It commits to enabling women to go safely through pregnancy and childbirth and provide couples with the best chance of having a healthy infant.”
It boldly affirms, “the family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and entitled to protection from society and the state, that motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance, that women play a critical role in the family and women’s contribution to the welfare of the family and to the development of society.”
Valerie Huber, the president of the Institute for Women’s Health served as the first US Special Representative for Global Women’s Health in the first Trump administration. She was authorised to lay the groundwork for the Geneva Consensus Declaration – a global coalition of nations committed to improving women’s health and strengthening families.
Ms Huber sent me an invitation in 2024 to attend the fourth Commemoration of the GCD in Washington DC. I was unable to attend. I invited Valerie Huber and the IWH to participate in the 3rd ACPF Pan-African Conference on Family Values in Cape Town in May 2027. FPI, the ACPF and IWH will collaborate to promote the GCD principles to African nations.
The US State Department will convene an event at the US Capitol in September to commemorate the sixth anniversary of the GCD and the return of the Secretariat to the US. I expect to be invited again and hope to attend so I can meet with key pro-family leaders as well as officials from the US State Department. Please pray for favour and provision.
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Date published: 18/08/2026
Feature image: Sourced from Magnific; for illustration purposes only
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