Meghan Markle spent her first week back from maternity leave in South Africa where she hit the ground running, attending official royal engagements and meeting locals with baby Archie Harrison by her side. Over the past few days, while Prince Harry has been visiting neighbouring countries, Botswana, Malawi, Angola, the Duchess of Sussex has been focused on a cause close to her heart: women’s rights and gender equality.
Taking to Instagram, Meghan revealed that last week she met with a group of women to discuss women’s rights in South Africa. The duchess noted the group was made up of “legendary anti-apartheid activist, female parliamentarians, professors, educators and policy makers,” saying that she wanted to spend her time in the country learning more about gender-based violence and women’s issues.
“In the lead up to this tour it weighed heavily on my heart to see the countless violations against women, and I wanted to spend my time on the ground learning about the situation at hand,” she wrote of the gathering.
Read her entire post on the subject below:
“On Thursday we convened a meeting of minds — a group of women ranging from a legendary anti-apartheid activist, female parliamentarians, professors, educators and policy makers to discuss the rights of women in South Africa. In the lead up to this tour it weighed heavily on my heart to see the countless violations against women, and I wanted to spend my time on the ground learning about the situation at hand.
One of the guests, Sophia Williams-De Bruyn was just 18 years old when in 1956 she led 20,000 women to march on the Union Buildings in Pretoria in protest of apartheid pass laws. She is the last living leader of the march, and today, a symbol of those who fight for fundamental human rights — For her it is simple — she fights for what is right.
Issues of gender inequality affect women throughout the world, independent of race, color, creed, or socioeconomic background. In the last week I’ve met with women from all walks of life — religious leaders such as the first female rabbi in Capetown, grassroots leaders in Nyanga at Mbokodo, community activists, parliamentarians, and so many more.
In sitting down with these forward thinkers, it was abundantly clear — it is not enough to simply hope for a better future; the only way forward is ‘hope in action.’ I’m eager to spend the next few days in South Africa continuing to learn, listen and absorb the resilience and optimism I’ve felt here.” -Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Sussex
Over the weekend, the mother-of-one took time out of her schedule to personally visit the memorial of Uyinene Mrwetyana, a 19-year-old student at the University of Cape Town who was raped and murdered in August. Meghan also met with Mrwetyana’s mother to offer her and Prince Harry’s condolences and to deepen her understanding of the current situation and how she could continue to advocate for the rights of women and girls.
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