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<DIV><SPAN class=389402108-01032004><SPAN class=389402108-01032004><SPAN
class=107151108-08032004><FONT color=#0000ff><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
color=#000000><o:p>SA celebrates International Women's Day
</o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
color=#000000>Communications Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri will today host a
gala dinner at the Presidential Guest House in Pretoria to celebrate
International Women's Day, marked worldwide on this
day.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
color=#000000> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
color=#000000><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">The
United Nations commemorates the day since it was declared in </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt">1977
and </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">many
countries have also designated it as a national
holiday.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
color=#000000> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt"><FONT
color=#000000>The day provides an opportunity to reflect on the progress made
to advance women's life and promote gender
equality.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt"><FONT
color=#000000> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt"><FONT
color=#000000>It is also used to assess challenges facing women in present-day
societies, devise suitable and workable future plans to enhance the status of
women and applaud the gains made to promote women
development.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt"><FONT
color=#000000> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
color=#000000>Women from around the world also use the day to measure progress
made in their fights for equality, justice, peace and
development.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
color=#000000> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
color=#000000>Today's discussions at the dinner would touch on the role of
women in advancing the objectives set by Africa's economic blueprint, the New
Partnership for Africa's Development.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
color=#000000> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal dir=ltr style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
color=#000000><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Guests
at the dinner will include government ministers who will also discuss the
challenges posed by HIV and AIDS on
women.</SPAN></FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Garamond>Regards,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Garamond>Refilwe Rakhibane</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Garamond>Email: </FONT><A
href="mailto:mtintern@sangonet.org.za"><FONT
face=Garamond>mtintern@sangonet.org.za</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Garamond>Website: </FONT><A
href="http://www.sn.apc.org/"><FONT
face=Garamond>www.sn.apc.org</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT
face=Garamond>-------------------------------------------------------------------</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Garamond>Tel: (011) 403-4935</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Garamond>Fax: (011) 403-0130/9685</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT
face=Garamond>-------------------------------------------------------------------</FONT></DIV>
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