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October 12
Dear Sir,
COMMENT ON RDP WHITE PAPER AND BEIJING REPORT
THE GENDER FACTOR - A
GENDER QUOTA FOR THE RDP AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT The principal goal of The Women's
Lobby (TWL) since its inception
in 1991 has been the promotion of women into
government structures and decision-making positions at national, regional and
local
levels.
The ANC gave women an enormous boost by their requirement
of one third women on their national list. TWL wishes the Government of
National Unity to take this further by establishing a gender quota for
provincial and local government as well. TWL's research among
women's
organisations shows that women are most closely associated with their
communities and most aware of services needed to improve
the lives of their
families and the communities in which they live.
Referring to the Beijing
Conference Report 1995 we note the statement on page 52 ... 'lit is imperative
that a clear strategy for
ensuring the effective participation of women at local
government level is adopted and implemented timeously, for this is the level
at
which government delivery occurs."
We see a gender quota as one such
strategy. This could be entrenched in the Constitution itself, by legislation,
by a requirement
for political parties or through some other process. We favour
Norway's requirement of a minimum of 40% of either gender on all
boards,
commissions, etc. But TWL would strongly urge we extend this to all
policy-making bodies, and that political parties by
obliged to implement this by
a minimum of 40% of either gender on all their electoral lists.
Our
latest information on quotas comes from the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Geneva.
Their "PLAN OF ACTION - To Correct Present Imbalances
In The Participation Of
Men And Women In Political Life", March 1994, proposes measures for political
parties "to give equally qualified
men and women equal opportunities to belong
to decision‑making bodies at all levels in the party's structure: local,
provincial
and national."
They go on to say that "On a strictly interim
basis, these measures may include affirmative action measures. Wherever the
measure
chosen is a quota system, it is proposed that the quota should not
target women but that, in a spirit of equity, it may be established
that neither
sex may occupy a proportion of seats inferior to a given percentage."
Page 2
RDP WHITE PAPER AND BEIJING REPORT
TWL welcomes the goals of the RDP
White Paper and has read with great interest the Country Report On The Status Of
South African Women.
We agree with the observations on page 51 in Chapter 10 of
the Report that much "will depend on the strategies and machinery put
into
place, the resources allocated and the commitment ... to real changes ... 11 We
commend your opening comment in this chapter
that "...equality and non-sexism
are now the responsibility of the country, its Government and all its
people."
In the RDP White Paper we were disturbed to see a litany of the
same male-dominated structures at the heart of decision-making, although
there
was repeated reference to the need for empowerment and devel‑opment of
women. The Country Report (page 53) confirmed
our fears: "The dangers inherent
in the RDP unfolding scenario are that policy‑making (economic,social and
political), and
consultative structures and processes at national,regional and
local level,inherit the race, class and gender hierarchies that are
the legacy
of apartheid".
GENDER QUOTAS NEEDED IN THE RDP
TWL recommends that the
best solution to these dilemmas is a gender quota on all RDP consultative,
policy-formulating and implementing
structures. We urge that a national debate
be opened on this issue. In addition, the question of a gender quota system
should form
part of South Africa's agenda at Beijing. While the goal of gender
partnership and parity has not yet been fully achieved anywhere,
it is being
actively pursued by all the Scandinavians, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and
other countries. President Francois Mitterand
of France advocates quotas for
women to ensure parity in political participation. It is time the entire world
followed this trend.
We would welcome a programme such as Sweden's five
year national action plan for equality between the sexes. South Africa should
also consider Sweden's example of identical curricula for boys and girls, to
wipe out sex-stereotyping. Equally important is our
need for early education
programmes to teach peaceful conflict resolution countering the culture of
violence against girls and women.
GENDER COMMISSION
TWL also
recommends that a gender quota be applied to the Gender Commission and that a
fair proportion of appointees be drawn from
women's voluntary
organisations.
A GLOBAL DEBATE ON GENDER QUOTAS IS NEEDED
TWL believes
that a global examination and debate of gender quotas would go far to improve
the position of women and to encourage
development world-wide. It would be a
feather in South Africa's cap if we were the country to introduce discussion
throughout the
world on this crucial theme. The enhanced prestige of South
Africa due to our spirit of reconciliation might help to ensure acceptance
of
such a debate.
We earnestly request serious consideration of TWL's
suggestions. The Women's Lobby wishes you the very best in your
endeavours.
Cordially,
/A4 - /@
Babette Kabak - Chairman
Doris Ravenhill - Vice-Chairman
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