It is important that women celebrate themselves but also that they don't only preach to the converted and go out there and win more allies for our st… - Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka

We are also calling for women to be given equal pay for work of equal value, but also women still do a lot of unpaid work at home: caring for the aged, caring for children and that means that women cannot go out in the labour market and be part of the formal economy. So we are still, in a way, campaigning for the same thing. Women are campaigning for peace in countries where there is conflict. Women are campaigning against violence against women, which also means that where women have experienced domestic violence at home and outside the home they are not at peace with themselves.

I think that it is important that women grab the opportunities that are there. Young women must stay at school much longer. They must delay having children until they can afford to have and look after them. They must be assertive and not be afraid to talk and to engage, because this world belongs to them just as much as it belongs to men.

The women's movement has led the struggle, very bold, very courageous. But the change that is required­– respect for human rights of women– is not just the responsibility of women alone. So we need to mobilize and to involve men.