Helen Manyeneng

"I call on all of us individually and collectively to support women and girls particularly those who want to pursue politics as their career, use International Women's Day as an opportunity to invest in women, celebrate their achievements and accelerate progress towards a more just and equal world."

"It offers an opportunity to reflect on progress made on the call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities."

"We meet here not out of routine."

"We gather because the impact of climate change is neither abstract nor remote. It is immediate, it is devastating, and it is disproportionately borne by the most vulnerable among us, our children."

"Let me be abundantly clear: climate change is a children’s rights crisis."

"Protocols are only as powerful as the political will behind them."

"Let us enshrine in our laws the right of every child to grow up in a healthy, safe, and sustainable environment."

"Let us ensure that the voices of children – often spoken about but rarely spoken with – are central to decision-making processes on climate policy."

"Legislation is where intention becomes obligation."

"Let this be the moment where the SADC region boldly declares, ‘Our climate agenda will not ignore our children."

"Let this be the moment where we rise as a regional bloc, not just to adapt, but to protect, to empower, and to secure the promise of tomorrow through the actions of today."