1. COMMISSION
ON GENDER EQUALITY
29 May 2006
Presentation to the Select Committee on Security and Constitutional Affairs

2. Mandate
The Commission on Gender Equality was created in terms of Section 187 of the South African Constitution, to strengthen and deepen constitutional democracy in South Africa.
The Commission on Gender Equality Act 39 of 1996 charges the CGE with a mandate to promote respect for, as well as promote the protection, development and attainment of gender equality.
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3. The South African Constitution S187
1) The Commission for Gender Equality must protect respect for gender equality and the protection, development and attainment of gender equality
2) The Commission for Gender Equality has the power, as regulated by national legislation, necessary to perform its functions, including the power to monitor, investigate, research, educate and lobby, advise and report on issues concerning gender equality.
3) The Commission for Gender Equality has the additional powers and functions as prescribed by national legislation.
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4. Vision A society free from gender discrimination and oppression.
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5. Mission
Promoting, protecting, monitoring and evaluating gender equality in all social structures.
Continuously engaging in cooperative and visible partnerships with stakeholders at large.
Supporting democratic processes by facilitating gender equality in society as a whole.
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6. Strategic objectives
1) Monitor, and develop where necessary, effective gender monitoring mechanisms for public and private institutions to ensure the appropriate implementation of gender sensitive strategies, policies and programmes;
2) Develop, manage and conduct information and education programmes for the promotion and attainment of gender equality;
3) Evaluate and monitor any Act of Parliament or any other law or treaty affecting or likely to affect gender equality or the status of women and make recommendations and submissions for law reform to Parliament with regard thereto;
4) Investigate any gender-related issues of its own accord or receipt of a complaint and endeavour to resolve any dispute and rectify any act or omission.
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7. Summary of activities
Ensuring that principles in the Constitution become a reality for all people of SA
Strengthening an independent and cooperative relationship with Parliament
Engaging with civil society to strengthen women’s empowerment and political participation
Mobilising communities around specific gender issues
Participating as a key structure in the National Gender Machinery for the promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment
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8. Organogram
Chairperson
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9. Financial Resources
Treasury allocation increased from R8m in 1999 to R26,4m in 2005/6
Allocation for 2006/7: R37,7m
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10. Financial Resources 17/11/2018 1989/ 1999 1999/ 2000 2000/ 2001
1989/ 1999
1999/ 2000
2000/ 2001
2001/ 2002
2002/ 2003
2003/ 2004
2004/ 2005
2005/ 2006
2006/
2007
Treasury Allocation
R8m
R10,7m
R12,2m
R13m
R14,9m
R17,3m
R 21.30
R26,4
R37,7m
Donor Funds
R0.62m
R1,2m
R0,25m
R0.3m
R1,5m
R1.7m
R2m
R1.5m
Requested Budget
R20m
R22m
R25m
R30m
R34m
R39m
39.4m
R44m
R39,5m
Shortfall
R11,3m
R10m
R12m
R16m
R18,5m
R20,1m
R18m
R18.3m
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11. Financial Resources
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12. CGE Finances
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13. CGE Finances
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14. CGE Finances
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15. Donor Funding 2005/6 Mott Foundation Heinrich Böhl Stiftung
Research on Women’s Participation in Local Governance
Heinrich Böhl Stiftung
Gender Opinion Survey
Premier’s Discretionary Fund
Eastern Cape Province
European Union
Civil Society Advocacy Programme (with other C9s)
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16. Public Education and Information
Develops, manages and conducts information and education programmes, including workshops and campaigns, for the promotion and attainment of gender equality
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17. Public Education and Information
Educational Programmes:
Campaigns ( people reached)
Workshops (9 403 participants)
National and Provincial Summits
Exhibitions ( people reached)
Provincial Gender Dialogues
Development of resource material
Conferences
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18. Public Education and Information
Information Programmes
Publications
Posters, pamphlets, training manuals
Resource Centre
Established Resource Centres in Provinces;
Archiving
Press releases (30)
Information management
Website – Visits per Annum
IT System
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19. Legal Services
Investigates gender-related complaints on its own accord or upon receipt of a complaint,
Evaluates and monitors any Act of Parliament or any other law or treaty affecting or likely to affect gender equality or the status of women and through:
Submissions to Parliament with regard thereto (N=21)
Advertising Standards Authority of SA
(N=20)
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20. Complaints Total number of complaints received: 525
Intervened in cases (amicus curiae):
Sidwell Mamitwa/TLPN Shilubane & Others TPD 25411/2002
Omar v Government of the RSA and others CCT 47/04
Submitted 20 gender related complaints to Advertising Standards Authority of SA
Also: gender-related cases monitored by the CGE
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21. Complaints (cont.) 6.3% Labour 6% Tradition, religion and culture
Court processes
4.3%
Inheritance property
16%
Sexual Harassment
3.1%
Social security
25%
Maintenance
30%
GBV
% of total N of complaints
Rank of Complaints (top 8 only)
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22. Research Monitoring and evaluation activities: Gender Mainstreaming in
national and provincial departments, local authorities
Representation and participation of women and men in political parties & decision-making structures (50/50 campaign)
Gender opinions within civil society
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23. Provincial Work Provincial offices in all provinces
Mpumalanga and Gauteng to open in 2006
Each Provincial Office has:
A Provincial Co-Ordinator; An Office Administrator; An Office Assistant; An Education Officer; A Legal Officer; A Research Officer
Provincial work plans developed from National StratPlan
All Offices participate in
Provincial Gender Machinery meetings and activities
Monitoring of gender mainstreaming and equality within provinces, including Equality Courts
Submissions to Provincial Legislatures
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24. Collaborative Work Government Departments
Clusters: Justice Dept;
Equality Act implementation;
Premier’s Discretionary Fund (EC)
Parliament: Portfolio Committees
NGOs and CBOs: special themes
Other Chapter 9s: CSAP, MOUs, elections
National Gender Machinery
International, regional and sub-regional work
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25. Challenges in the external environment
Gendered nature of HIV/AIDS, child-headed households, situation of elderly women, pervasive poverty, violence, rape, illiteracy, lack of skills and capacity of women to participate in socio-political and economic decision-making
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26. Challenges to the CGE as a C9
Lack of national infrastructure to implement legislative framework is not consonant with constitutional / Human Rights framework
Communication structure and process affecting information flow from Parliament and government/OSW
Limited understanding of, and interaction with C9s based on constitutional mandate – not included in processes of government
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27. Challenges to the CGE as part of the NGM
Intersection of partners within the NGM and positioning of GFPs
Mandate of CGE vs. interpretation of National Policy Framework of OSW
Limited participation of Provincial Gender Machineries / Women’s Caucuses
Funding and capacity of NGM, limits participation of partners
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28. Challenges in terms of the CGE Act
Measurable outputs required for Commissioners
Delays in appointment and replacement of Commissioners
Inability to litigate (in terms of CGE Act)
Harmonising CGE Act with PFMA
Opportunities to interact directly with Parliament in terms of provisions of the Act
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29. Achievements
Increased public awareness on issues of gender, including schools, the media, civil society organisations and private sector
Sensitized government departments towards issues of gender
Improved representation and participation of women in political decision-making
Inclusion of men in gender programmes
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30. Impact
Impact on understanding of gender-based discrimination, awareness and opinions on the ground
On civil society level, assisted men and women to assert their rights to gender equality
Impact on local government elections
Impact on gender-based violence
Impact on gender-related law reform
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31. Impact Improved maintenance system
Impact on gender-related complaints of discrimination, sexual harassment and precedent setting court processes
Impact on negative stereotyping of women through advertisements
Impact on inclusion of a gender perspective in national, sub-regional, regional and international processes
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32. Thank you
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