Background to the SALGA Women s Commission: The Journey

Transcription

1 Background to the SALGA Women s Commission: The Journey Cllr Sindiswa Gomba SWC NaAonal Summit : 17 May 2017

2 IntroducAon & Background The establishment of the Women s Commission - is part of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) initiative Informed by gender related challenges facing local government in Africa: Limited progress towards gender equality Paucity of female leaders on the continent Social stereotyping of women UCLG Women s Commission was launched in July 2008, in Accra, Republic of Ghana.

3 IntroducAon & Background Aims and Objectives of the Women s Commission: To mobilise women in local government and coordinate their gender struggles; To spearhead the objectives, policies and programmes of the UCLG amongst women Councillors and officials; To spearhead the emancipation of women within UCLG and its regions and at all levels of local government;

4 IntroducAon & Background Aims and Objectives of the Women s Commission: To capacitate and empower women to play a proactive role in local government matters; To promote women s leadership and participation in both the political and administrative role in local government matters.

5 SALGA s Road- Map 2009: The Women in Local Government National Conference resolved that: SALGA to embark on launching the formation of a structure to coordinate the programmes of the women in Provincial and Local Government level The structure to also coordinate and implement the Summit or Conference Resolutions The Commission was to be a political structure to promote, coordinate and advocate for gender issues internally (in South Africa) and internationally (linking to the issues raised at the Women s Platform of the UCLGA) The decision endorsed by the SALGA National Members Assembly and National Executive Committee.

6 SALGA s Road- Map 2010: Terms of Reference (TOR) to guide the functions of the Women s Commission for SALGA were developed. The TOR focused on how the Commission will operate, including the nomination processes at provincial and national level 2010: Launching of the SALGA Women s Commission at the Women in local government Summit

7 SALGA s Road- Map 2012: Nomination of National Commissioner & handover from caretaker Chairperson at the 2012 National Lekgotla 2012 / 2013: Provincial roadshows for the establishment of the provincial chapters 2013 / 2014: SWC Chapters established in all Provinces as well as establishment (where not existing) and strengthening of the women s caucus

8 SALGA s Road- Map 2014 / 15: Development of a Programme of Action (POA) to outline the scope of work of the SWC. The POA was adopted as a reporting and monitoring tool to inform the desired activities and expected outputs and outcomes of the SWC interventions 2015 / 2016: Ongoing implementation of the SWC Programme of Action and compiling a status quo report outlining projects activities carried out, achievements, challenges, lessons learnt, recommendations and areas of improvement.

9 Achievements ü Since the establishment - convened SWC Provincial Makgotla as a build-up to the National Lekgotla convened in Gauteng Province in 2012, and ü Resolution of the 2013 Summit for the annual National Summit to be convened in different provinces. Process involved bidding by the provincial chapter and delegates voting on the winning province. The following provinces hosted: Mpumalanga in 2014 KwaZulu Natal in 2015 Gauteng in 2016

10 Achievements Include but not limited to the following: ü Roadshows for the establishment and revival of women structures i.e. women s caucus as advocacy platforms ü Induction workshops to explain gender mainstreaming and role clarification of (focusing on composition, roles and functions, reporting lines) of women structures operating in Local Government; notably - the SWC, women s caucus and special programmes ü Compiling annual audits to assess the status quo on the representation and participation of women in leadership positions in Local Government

11 Achievements Include but not limited to the following: ü Participation in Inter-Governmental Relations (IGR) platforms to present on the role of the SWC and gender mainstreaming projects and programmes in local government ie. representing local government at National Council of Provinces (NCOP) debates and at the Joint Sitting of Parliament ü Advocacy and Lobbying as part of commemorative events and campaigns i.e. National Women s Day, 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, 50/50 campaign ü Forging collaboration and partnership with stakeholders for joint implementation of programmes

12 Challenges The SWC operating as a sub-committee of the National and Provincial Working Group. This required submission of resolutions for endorsement / approval before implementation Insufficient resources especially the budget to implement the programme of action / gender programmes and projects resulting in nonachievement of planned interventions Municipalities regarding the establishment of women caucus (Section 79 portfolio committees) as an option (location of the women s caucus remains a challenge in terms of implementation of programmes)

13 Challenges Non-adherence to equal gender representation (50/50) in leadership positions. The structures of local government do not yet adequately reflect the number of women in decision making structures. Inadequate policies and mechanisms to create an enabling work environment for women Lack of disaggregated data on how different projects and programmes accommodate and address gender mainstreaming Insufficient reporting on the work of the SWC

14 RecommendaAons Lobbying and supporting processes for the review and amendment of legislation and policies pertinent to the gender equality debate, in particular, the Municipal Structures Act (1998) and the Local Government Municipal Electoral Act (2000), to be aligned to the 50/50 quota (in the long term) SALGA together with relevant partner institutions and organisations actively advocate and lobby for the movement from voluntary measures to mandatory measures on the 50/50 percent quota

15 RecommendaAons Acknowledging the functioning of the Women's Caucus as Section 79 Committees in Council to ensure gender mainstreaming in municipal programmes and budget processes (gender responsive budgeting) Development of monitoring and evaluation mechanisms Escalating partnerships with other stakeholders for collaboration with implementation of gender mainstreaming projects and programmes

16 Members of the SWC (NaAonal Level) Cllr Sindiswa Gomba Cllr Lindelwa Ntlonze Cllr Disebo Nakedi Cllr Patricia Kumalo Cllr Hlengiwe Mavimbela Cllr Maria Lekganyane Cllr Shelly Nkadimeng Cllr Eileen Drage- Maritz Cllr Poppy Seduku- Maje Cllr LuAsia Daries Na$onal Commissioner Provincial Commissioner EC Provincial Commissioner FS Provincial Commissioner GP Provincial Commissioner KZN Provincial Commissioner LP Provincial Commissioner MP Provincial Commissioner NC Provincial Commissioner NW Provincial Commisioner WC

17 Malibongwe!