Poverty eradication became the main issue in parliament when women from all walks of life converged for the annual women's parliament.

Poverty eradication became the main issue in parliament when women from all walks of life converged for the annual women's parliament.

Under the theme "Parliament empowering women for poverty eradication", women recently deliberated on the challenges they face as they fight poverty.

Spokesman Ntombomzi Mbelebele said the women looked at the declaration by the Pan African Women's Organisation at its 9th conference last year.

"The declaration stated that African states must ensure unity and economic cooperation as well as collaborative efforts to improve the quality of life of all people on the continent," Mbelebele said.

She said the conference also investigated whether women were utilising empowerment initiatives such as South African Women in Dialogue, South African Women Entrepreneurial Network, Women in Mining and Women in Construction, to improve their economic status.