1. COMMISSION ON GENDER EQUALITY
Parliamentary Hearing Report
To the Portfolio Committee
17th March 2006

2. Vision
A society free from gender discrimination and oppression

3. Mission
Promotion, Protection, Monitoring and Evaluation of gender equality through:
I) Fostering public understanding by developing, managing and conducting educational and information programmes
ii) Proactively and reactively investigating issues and complaints on gender discrimination at all levels identified through interaction with stakeholders and other concerned citizens to attain reform in the area of gender equality and
iii) Conducting research to further the objectives of the institution

4. Strategic objectives
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
Develop, manage and conduct information and education programmes for the promotion and attainment of gender equality
Evaluate and monitor and Act of Parliament or any other law or treaty affecting or likely to affect gender equality or the status of women and make recommendations to Parliament with regard thereto; Law reform to be made part of the legal service department
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

5. Programmes Public Education and Information:
Develops, manages and conducts information and education programmes, including workshops and campaigns
Policy and Research:
Undertakes research in rural and urban settings in all provinces through the Provincial Offices of the CGE

6. Programmes (cont.) Legal Services: Investigates gender-related issues,
Evaluates and monitors any Act of Parliament or any other law or treaty affecting or likely to affect gender equality
Submissions to Parliament with regard thereto.

7. Programmes for enhancement of capacity within the CGE
Civil Society Advocacy Programme
Agreement SA/
Objective:
The project will contribute towards more effective governance, reduction of poverty and improved living conditions in selected communities.
Results:
Targeted CSO’s provide effective advocacy support thus The targeted communities are empowered to access their rights
Chapter 9 institutions provide active advocacy support within their mandate
Budget:
Total commitment for May 2005-May 2006 = R10m
Total commitment for duration of period = Euros 3.3 million

8. Programmes for enhancement of capacity within the CGE
(2) Premier’s Discretionary Fund: Eastern Cape
Objectives:
Conduct situational analysis and collect data in 3 pilot areas
Combat gender-based violence
Gender mainstreaming
Institutional capacity building
Empower women through skills development
Empower women economically
Integrate gender equality component into existing programmes
Establish community newsletter
Budget: R1m

9. Corporate activities Restructuring and Job Evaluation (Completed)
Performance Management (Ongoing)
Skills Development (Ongoing)
Employment Equity (Ongoing)
Risk Management (Ongoing)
Fraud Prevention Plan (Completed)
Supply Chain Management (Ongoing)
Internal Auditing (Annual auditing)
Strategic Planning (Annual Review)
Internal Review (Forthcoming)
External audit (Unqualified audit report 2005/6)

10. Human Resources Currently: Female: 48; Male: 16
Since 1999 the CGE’s total staff complement (secretariat) increased from 42 to a total of 64 employees in 2006:
Currently:
Female: 48; Male: 16
Senior Managers: 2 female, 2 male
HDI’s: 95%

11. Financial Resources
Treasury allocation increased from R8m in 1999 to R26,4m in 2005/6
Next allocation for 2006/7 will be R37,7m

12. Financial Resources 1998/ 1999 1999/ 2000 2000/ 2001 2001/ 2002
1998/ 1999
1999/ 2000
2000/ 2001
2001/ 2002
2002/ 2003
2003/ 2004
2004/ 2005
2005/ 2006
Treasury Allocation
R8m
R10,7m
R12,2m
R13m
R14,9m
R17,3m
R 21.30
R26,4
Donor Funds
R0.62m
R1,2m
R0,25m
R0.3m
R1,5m
R1.7m
R2m
Requested Budget
R20m
R22m
R25m
R30m
R34m
R39m
39.4m
R44m
Shortfall
R11,3m
R10m
R12m
R16m
R18,5m
R20,1m
R18m
R18.3m

13. Financial Resources

14. Financial Resources 2006/7

15. CGE Budget 06/07 Division of Funding

16. Programme expenditure 2006/7

17. 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)

18. Research Gender Mainstreaming in
Monitoring and evaluation activities:
Gender Mainstreaming in
national and provincial departments, local authorities, political parties (50/50 campaign), ordinary citizens gender opinions

19. Research Research Reports 2005/6: National Gender Opinion Survey
Monitoring and evaluation of women’s participation in political decision-making
The gender dimension of HIV/AIDS and the elderly

20. Public Education and Information
Educational Programmes
Campaigns
Media Releases
Workshops
Exhibitions
Gender Dialogues
Development of resource material
Summits

21. Public Education and Information
Information Programmes
Publications
Posters, pamphlets, training manuals
Resource Centre
Establishment of Resource Centres in Provinces; Archiving
Exhibitions
Information management
Website
IT support
- Policy
- Support and maintenance

22. Legal Services: Complaints 2005/6
Rank of Complaints (top 10 only) %
GBV
30%
Maintenance
25 %
Sexual Harassment
16%
Labour
6.3%
Tradition, religion and culture 6%
Court processes
Inheritance property
4.3%
Social security
3.1%
Access to government services
1.6%
Citizenship & Regis. of population
1.1%
Total number of complaints
525

23. Complaints (cont.)
Legal interventions:
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 ASASA
Also: gender-related cases monitored by the CGE

24. Outputs: Parliamentary Office
Submissions to Parliament
Engage in Parliamentary Committees on upcoming bills
Consult with civil society and relevant stakeholders

25. Challenges Dealing with entrenched gender inequality and patriarchy
Implementation of legislation and law enforcement by officials – e.g. maintenance complaints
Many people (incl. media) do not know the content of the Constitution and have little knowledge of C9s, their work, roles and mandate
Amendment of old statutes that violate the Constitution
Participation in the National Gender Machinery
Reaching out to remote rural areas, lack of programmes for young women, HIV/AIDS
Easy flow of information from Dept. of Foreign Affairs to enable CGE to participate in sub-regional, regional and international activities

26. Challenges (cont.)
Lack of access to country reports in time for monitoring
Broad mandate, given the scant capacity and resources
Challenges emanating from the CGE Act:
Measurable outputs required for Commissioners
Delays in appointment and replacement of Commissioners
Inability to litigate in terms of the CGE act
Harmonising CGE Act with PFMA
Opportunities to interact directly with Parliament in terms of provisions of the Act

27. Collaborative Work
Government Departments: Justice Dept (Equality Act implementation); Premier’s Discretionary Fund
Strengthened relationship with local governments
Parliament: Portfolio Committees
NGOs and CBO’s: special themes
Other Chapter 9s: CSAP, MOU’s, elections
National Gender Machinery

28. International Work
Monitoring of international, regional and sub-regional instruments
Participation in World Conferences
Participation in Gender Fora
Also:
UN Commission on the Status of Women (Beijing +10)
SADC and African Union gender-related processes
Bilateral Agreement
MOU’s with international organisations
Interaction with foreign delegations

29. Impact
Launching and implementing of the 50/50 campaign in local government elections.
Increased awareness of gender-based violence brought about by education programmes and legislation
Improved maintenance system
Developing gender training and resource material for public sensitization on gender
Developing a number of gender related policies with government departments, public and private sector
Impacting on gender-related law reform, particularly the Children’s Bill in relation to virginity testing and circumcision.
Annually we have a number of campaigns on gender sensitization

30. Achievements Increased public awareness on issues of gender
Sensitized government departments towards issues of gender
Improved representation of women in decision-making structures
Increased gender-sensitivity in the school curricula
Participated in including a gender perspective in national, sub-regional, regional and international processes
Together with ASASA the CGE, dealt with cases of demeaning advertising which promotes negative stereotypes about women
Strengthening civil society through partnerships with CSO’s
Public requests for CGE to be utilized as a resource
Inclusion of men in gender programmes
Increased accessibility through two new provincial offices

31. Thank you