THE SADC GENDER PROTOCOL SUMMIT 2014 Centre of excellence THE DISTRICT COUNCIL OF RIVIERE DU REMPART PRESENTED BY ANOUSHIA MAHADEO 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA SYNOPSIS The Local Government Act 2011 increased women participation in politics. 9 women elected chairperson at village council level. With the 30% quota system women gained the platform to voice out their needs and solve their issues. Both male and female councillors are taking decisions at the Council level. Women councillors seen as agents of change. 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA OBJECTIVES Gender responsive governance. Build on the experiences of both men and women to meet their respective needs. Ensuring equal access and equal treatment in services provided by the Council. 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA Gender Mainstreaming Women’s empowerment. Women’s safety and security. 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA KEY ACTIVITIES The Council works in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender through committees like District Child Protection Committee, Child Watch Committee etc… Involvement in environment friendly activities for e.g. composting, tree planting, clean up campaigns,etc… Infrastructures are made available for training programmes. Football Grounds and Children playgrounds are well maintained so as youth and children can have good leisure times. Health tracks are put at the disposal of the public to promote health and wellbeing. Streetlighting ensures the safety of inhabitants. 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

Promoting spirituality

Clean and Green Mauritius

SENSITISING WOMEN

50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA RESULTS n Moving towards gender sensitive governance. Satisfaction to all segments of society. Empowerment of women. been neglected in male dominated politics Women approaching women councillors to meet their needs. More changes at the village level. Gender responsive governance 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

Women being recognised for contribution in SOCIAL WORK

Media portraying positive aspects of women councillors

50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA CHALLENGES Unavailability of funds and shortage of staff. Councillors not aware of gender mainstreaming and gender responsive governance-however workshops helped a lot. 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

LEARNING AND SHARING WITH OTHER ORGANISATIONS Gender Links –raising awareness through workshops held at the Council. Ministry of gender and Equality through committees. 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

LESSON LEARNED AND INNOVATION Gender mainstreaming helps to ensure access and service delivery to all segments in the society. Women councillors making the difference . A greater segment of society is now aware of the important role played by women in the development of the community. The Gender mainstreaming commitment has to start with top level decision makers with clear top down involvement by the people in charge. Political support is important. 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

SUSTAINABILITY AND REPLICATION Encourage more villages in the Centre of Excellence process. Awareness raising should be a continuous process. 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA KEY PRIORITIES FOR 2014 Training of councillors who work at grassroot level. Encourage women participation in male dominated sports. 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA