Meghan Markle Just Gave a Powerful Speech, Telling the Women of Cape Town, I Am Here "As Your Sister"
Just hours after arriving in South Africa, the Duchess of Sussex has made a powerful and heartfelt speech.
Meghan spoke at the Nyanga township as she and Harry saw projects that help to empower young people and women in the area where crime rates and poverty are high.
“Just on one personal note, may I just say that while I am here with my husband as a member of the royal family, I want you to know that for me, I am here with you as a mother, as a wife, as a woman, as a woman of color and as your sister. I am here with you, and I am here FOR you,” Meghan told the community.
She and Harry both gave speeches outside the Nyanga Methodist Church, standing in front of a group of young women who take self-defense and female empowerment training classes. Both royals addressed the issue of violence against women which has been the subject of recent protests across South Africa.
“The work that’s being done here is to keep women and children safer, which is needed now more than ever. This is an issue that’s been at the forefront of people’s minds here in South Africa, and of course across the globe, particularly over this past month," Meghan said.
“Please know that my husband and I have been closely following what you’ve been experiencing here—as best we can from afar.”
She added, “You have welcomed us into this community, have been open and honest with us, both about the dangers women and children face, and about how you are addressing them. The rights of women and girls is something that is very close to my heart, and the cause I have spent the majority of my life advocating for because I know that when women are empowered, the entire community flourishes.”
For his part, Harry described the importance of “redefining masculinity,” pointing out that “no man is born to cause harm to women, this is learned behavior, and a cycle that needs to be broken.”
He continued, “To me, the real testament of your strength isn’t physical, it’s what’s up here and what’s in here [he said, pointing to his head and his heart]. Your strength is in your spirit, which for me means honoring and protecting my wife, and being a positive role model for my son.”
The prince outlined how important it was to them to begin the trip in the township and described Cape Town as “a uniquely special place in Africa.”
He said, “I wanted to ensure that our first visit as a family—with my wife by my side—focused on the significant challenges facing millions of South Africans, while acknowledging the hope that we feel so strongly here.”
Later today they will learn about how thousands of people were forced to relocate during the apartheid era on a visit to the District Six Museum.
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