|
1994/12/18
Sir
RE: INPUT ON GENDER EQUALITY:
Your minute dated 28 November 1994 refers, unfortunately our League has not
done any studies or analysis on Gender Equalities but
have been discussing and
observing this issue as a sore area in development that needed serious
consideration.
We are delighted to be involved in this exercise and we must thank you very
much for that, its that South Africans are on the road
where everybody must
participate.
these important questions put forward like,;
4.1 The need and reasons for inclusion of a commis‑sion on Gender
Equality in the final text of the Constitution.
South
Africans have realised that there's Gender inequalities, which may create
problems if it is ignored therefore in order to address
this issue which was
neglected by the previous Government; a Gender Equality Commission has to be
established. Again the Multiparty
government has promised this country
fairness, justice, opportunities that overlooks gender, therefore if this issue
is not taken
care of constitutionally the results may be disastrons.
Women
have for a long time suffered or were oppressed by traditional, cultural
political practices and the laws of the country compounded
this problem, now
that most or all the residents are aware of this; they talk about this and are
expecting that it's one of the crucial
areas to be addressed by the new
Government.
It has been proved beyond doubt that some women exceed men in
areas where they're talented and these talents have been suppressed
by culture,
politics or laws of the country, because they were denied equal opportunities to
display their skills even contribute
towards development, this has been clearly
indicated by the NGO's,and CBO's contributions in addres‑sing basic
issues like; mobilising women to engage in projects that are profit-making
thus creating jobs and releasing more women to work. If this Gender
Equality is
not given the seriousness it deserves by the new constitution, then please know
that women who are in the majority in
this country will NEVER be happy.
This is a crucial issue and therefore has to be given a special attention which
is constitutionalisation We shall not
be happy until this issue on Gender
Equality appears in the constitution, because that will indicate that it is
taken care of.
By constitutionalising Gender Equality we
shall expect that women' s rights are enshrined in the constitution.
This country has been ignoring capabilities,
skills, techniques that women could offer for economic, political and social
development, its time to tap on these talents, create
opportunities and make use
of the available resources for the country's development.
It is important to realise that to bring about justice to all South Africans
irrespective of sex, race, religion, or nationality issues
that have been
identified as obstacles like Gender Inequalities MUST be
addressed.
This league, feels that by now this country has learnt that discrimination is
one serious drawback to progress and development. The
Black House Wives
leaguers stand point must be clearly understood as fully supporting the
establishment of a Gender Equality Committee
at all levels. Local Regional,
Provincial and National.
4.2 The status and functions of the commission,
To be powerful,
and effective the Commission's
status should be statutory. If we regard or view Gender Equality as a
crucial area to be constitutionalised then a statutory position
is appropriate
for this commission.
Functions:
- To
focus on gender inequalities as created
by:-
Traditional practices
-Cultural
(socialisation)
-Political ideologies
-Social practices and
-Statute
laws of this country e.g. "A woman remaining a perpetual minor".
- To
lobby and advocate for womens status in relation to gender inequalities,
"women’s rights".
- To
establish a network of committees from grass-roots, local, regional, Provincial
that'll explore, gender inequalities enforced either
by tradition, politics, or
Societal control which needs investigation and come out with recommendations on
modification thereof.
- Establish
a database, for information flow to and from communities which can be the basis
for research, surveys etc.
- Publicise
gender issues using either the media (TV and Radio) Newspapers, Brochures,
journals, or even have Libraries, films, videos
etc. etc. creating public
awareness.
- Monitor,
supervise and evaluate programmes specially designed to address gender
inequa‑lities.
- Organise
and conduct workshops, seminars on conferences on gender equalities to get the
opinion of the public and also to assess the
development relating to gender
issues.
- Encourage
authors to write and researchers to engage in gender equalities and
inequa‑lities of the past and present. Drama
and plays will reach the
public faster in addressing this issue, and this can be one of the commission's
tasks.
-5
5.1 Methodology of reaching the public
The public can be reached through the following means:-
-Media - (Radio, TV, Newspapers(etc. -Workshops, Seminars, Debates etc.
Books, on gender equalities.
-NGO's and CBO's meetings and training sessions; and Traditional leaders.
-Schools, Universities, Techinikons. -Business, Commercial
world.
-Liaise and co-ordinate efforts with
existing community organisations,
be they professional religious burial, stokvels etc.
-Design a journal or Newsletter.
-Youth Clubs or Organisations to
be used to demonstrate and discourage
gender differences.
5.2 Names of Organisations to be consulted.
-National NGO
Planning Committee.
-Provincial NGO Planning Committees(g).
-Private Sector Organisations like NAFCOC etc.
-Rotary Clubs around the Country.
-National and International funders. with vested interest on gender
equalities.
-Trade Unions (COSATU)
-Political Organisations N.P., ANC, PAC, AWB IFP etc, etc.
-Traditional leaders Association.
-Representatives of various NGO's and CBO's (men and women).
-Youth
clubs in all Provinces.
-Prominent-persons who are involved in Gender
issues at high level (Policy making).
-Researchers and Authors writing on
Gender issues.
| 
