Transcript Gender Mainstreaming in the Water Services Sector Overview

Strengthening women’s participation in local governance
Commission for Gender Equality
DDP
9th
Annual Local Government Conference: 20 Years of Local Democracy in SA
Commissioner Janine Hicks
20 October 2014
PRESENTATION OVERVIEW
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CGE mandate and vision
Attaining gender parity at local government level:
Women’s political representation and 50/50 developments
CGE engagement with political parties
Addressing employment equity issues within municipalities
Addressing gender mainstreaming in local governance
Gender equality challenges at the local level – opportunities for SALGA and CGE
partnership
CGE MANDATE AND VISION
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Section 187 of Constitution requires the CGE to promote respect for, and the
protection, development and attainment of gender equality
CGE Act No. 39 of 1996 mandates the CGE to monitor and evaluate legislation,
policies and practices of the state, statutory bodies, and the private sector, as well as
indigenous, customary and religious laws and practices
The CGE is empowered to research and make recommendations to Parliament;
receive and investigate complaints of gender discrimination; and conduct public
outreach and education on gender equality. The CGE has powers of subpoena and
litigation to further its mandate.
PEPUDA Act 4 of 2000 obliges the CGE to institute proceedings in equality courts in
instances of discrimination on the basis of gender
CGE vision is a society free from gender oppression and all forms of inequality.
ATTAINING GENDER PARITY AT LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEVEL: WOMEN’S POLITICAL REPRESENTATION AND 50/50
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Equality as Constitutional value and section 9 guarantee
S9(2) permits “fair discrimination”, and envisages legislative and other measures
designed to protect or advance persons/categories of persons disadvantaged by
unfair discrimination, to promote the achievement of equality
PEPUDA as a legislative tool demands implementation of 50/50 legislation – calls for
positive action to eradicate social and economic inequalities.
Places obligations on state and non-state actors to promote equality, through action
plans, equality legislation, codes of practice, guidelines etc. Regulations may be
developed to require corporations, clubs, associations etc to prepare equality plans
or abide by codes of practice. Requires special measures to promote equality viz
race, gender and disability
50/50 principle further supported in international conventions
LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR 50/50: INTERNATIONAL LAW
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CEDAW: Envisages equal participation of women in public life. State bound to
take steps to promote women’s participation in decision-making and leadership
positions. Art 7 requires signatories to enact measures to promote political
equality and eliminate discrimination against women in the political sphere.
BPA: Quotas considered key remedy for electoral gender inequality, by
empowering women in political systems. S190 calls on states to set targets to
increase the number of women to achieve equal representation, if necessary
positive action, and take measures in electoral systems that encourage political
parties to integrate women in elective and non-elective public positions, in the
same proportion and at the same levels as men.
AU WOMEN’S PROTOCOL: Art 9 on Right to participation in political and
decision-making processes, sets targets for achieving gender equality in the
electoral process and to participate in politics without discrimination
SADC GAD PROTOCOL: State parties shall endeavour that by 2015 50% of
decision-making positions in public and private sectors are held by women,
including the use of affirmative action measures viz Art 5
CGE PROPOSALS ON ELECTORAL REFORM
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Will require amendment of Electoral Act to establish quota system, and provide
mechanisms for non-compliance by political parties
CGE has made submission to IEC and Parliament viz Electoral Amendment Bill
This should be followed by further amendments to the Local Government:
Municipal Structures Act 1998, and the Local Government Municipal Electoral Act
2000, to embed the principal of 50/50 in our local government framework. The
CGE will engage Parliament on this later.
50/50 representation for some leadership positions cannot be achieved through
the suggested legislation – speaker, deputy speaker, chairpersons, deputy chairs,
members of Cabinet – requires further deliberation
Quota system will require training and skills development support for women in
politics
Requires political parties to put measures in place to address social barriers to
women’s equal participation in political life – access to child care, maternity leave,
campaign finances
CGE ENGAGEMENT WITH POLITICAL PARTIES
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Partner with NDI-SA, for research project on women’s political participation and
representation, with ANC, COPE and UDM
Beijing obligations on political parties – remove barriers and discrimination, develop
initiatives that allow women to participate fully, and incorporate gender issues in
political agenda
Review party documents; interviews with key stakeholders and focus group
discussions
CGE research into party electoral lists and representation of women in leadership
positions in Executive and Legislature
Currently engaging with feedback on findings to parties directly
Dialogue to be convened on challenges to women’s political participation and
representation, and best practice findings.
WHAT CAN POLITICAL PARTIES DO TO PROMOTE GENDER
TRANSFORMATION?
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Adopt a 50/50 quota system, undertake awareness measures at branch level, and
support call for legislation on this
Increase the number of women elected officials and ensure that they include
women in meaningful leadership positions
Integrate men into efforts to promote women’s political progress to increase gender
sensitivity and support for women’s political leadership
Create opportunities for income generation and political campaign financing for
women – a key barrier to women’s political advancement
Provide tools to manage personal and political roles and responsibilities –
women’s disproportionate domestic responsibilities a further barrier to their political
advancement
Surface and address gender in party manifestos – outlining how party
interventions promote gender equality, address gendered needs, and enhance the
lives of women
Cultivate and support women role models to challenge patriarchal perceptions of
women’s leadership
ADDRESSING EE WITHIN MUNICIPALITIES
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CGE public hearing engagements with municipalities across the provinces indicates
non-compliance with Employment Equity legislation
Non-implementation of 50/50 representation of women in senior management
positions, and with 2% representation of people with disabilities
Inadequate policy and mechanisms to address sexual harassment in the workplace
Inadequate policies and mechanisms to create enabling environment for women and
people with disabilities
CGE national report on findings and recommendations tabled in Parliament
Issue of women’s appointment as Municipal Managers, Mayors, Speakers and other
leadership positions needs to be championed by SALGA and Women’s Commission
CGE and SALGA to take-up issue of employment equity and gender transformation
within municipalities – accountability, best practice and support.
ADDRESSING GENDER MAINSTREAMING WITHIN
MUNICIPALITIES
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Need to engender local development planning and service delivery
SA Gender Policy Framework for local government – comprehensive institutional
framework – councillors’ Gender Equality Committee to oversee gender
mainstreaming; multi-party women’s caucus; gender focal points and forums
Elaborate gender machinery and guidelines on mainstreaming gender in Integrated
Development Plans – yet not implemented; also internal forums and processes only,
not addressing ordinary women’s participation in municipal processes
Development needs addressed in gender-blind manner; focus on women’s
representation in political and administrative structures, rather than on informing and
transforming work of municipalities
Women’s participation has been largely tokenistic (assumption that women will take
gender issues forward), marginal and absent in larger ‘flagship’ projects
SALGA to champion implementation, with CGE support
ADDRESSING LOCAL GENDER EQUALITY CHALLENGES
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SALGA Women’s Commission to champion issues impacting on women’s quality of
life, development and equality – through gender mainstreaming of party manifestos,
municipal IDP and budget processes, municipal war rooms, ward committees..
Women’s access to water, sanitation and energy is a key gender issues, as women
spend a disproportionate portion of their day addressing family needs in this regard,
and are most vulnerable to associated health and safety consequences
Women’s participation in local policy formulation and decision-making in
development planning priorities and service delivery is critical to ensure these are
responsive to their needs – review existing public participation mechanisms to
ensure accessibility to ordinary women
Women’s economic development interventions, to address gendered impact of
poverty and ensure sustainable rural livelihoods
GBV and harmful traditional practices – ukuthwala, early childhood marriages, family
mediation of rape of young girls, widowhood rites – interventions to raise awareness,
eradicate practices and provide support to women and girls
CONCLUSION – COLLABORATION OPPORTUNITIES
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SALGA to partner with CGE to take up proposed reform of Municipal Electoral Act
and Structures Act to embed 50/50
Participate in forthcoming dialogue on strengthening women’s political participation
and representation
Challenge political parties to implement internal mechanisms to support women’s
political participation and representation
Partner with CGE in outreach and awareness on 50/50 to build support
Engage with CGE on implementation of EE measures in the workplace
Champion gender mainstreaming of municipal planning and budgeting – partner with
CGE in taking this forward
Partner with CGE in local campaigns to eradicate GBV and harmful traditional
practices