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Parliamentary Hearing Report

To the Portfolio Committee

17th March 2006

COMMISSION ON GENDER EQUALITY

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Vision

A society free from gender discrimination and oppression

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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

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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

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ProgrammesPublic 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

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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.

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Programmes for enhancement of capacity within the CGE

(1)Civil Society Advocacy Programme Agreement SA/73200-03-03

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 = R10mTotal commitment for duration of period = Euros 3.3 million

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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

areasCombat gender-based violenceGender mainstreamingInstitutional capacity buildingEmpower women through skills developmentEmpower women economicallyIntegrate gender equality component into existing

programmesEstablish community newsletter

Budget: R1m

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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)

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Human Resources

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%

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Financial Resources

•Treasury allocation increased from R8m in 1999 to R26,4m in 2005/6

•Next allocation for 2006/7 will be R37,7m

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Financial Resources

 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 R1.7m

Requested Budget R20m R22m R25m R30m R34m R39m 39.4m R44m

Shortfall R11,3m R10m R12m R16m R18,5m R20,1m R18m R18.3m

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Financial Resources

Treasury Allocation (1999-2009)

R 0

R 5,000,000

R 10,000,000

R 15,000,000

R 20,000,000

R 25,000,000

R 30,000,000

R 35,000,000

R 40,000,000

R 45,000,000

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

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Financial Resources 2006/7

2006 / 2007 Distribution of funding

17%

18%

17%16%

32%

Public Education &Information

Legal Services

Research

Commissioners Off ice

Strategy, Admin,Accommodation &Management

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CGE Budget 06/07 Division of Funding

CGE Budget 06/ 07Division of funding

Chair & Commissioners

17%

CEO12%

Legal8%

PEI10%Research

8%

KZN5%

MPL5%

LIM4%

GTN5%

NC4%

EC4%

WC4%

Finance6%

FS4%

NW4%

Chair & Commissioners

CEO

Legal

PEI

Research

Finance

NW

FS

KZN

MPL

LIM

GTN

NC

EC

WC

CGE Budget 06/07Programme Expenditure

4%

65%

18%

13%

Capital Expenditure

Personnel Expenditure

Operational Expenditure

Programme Expenditure

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Programme expenditure 2006/7

CGE Budget 06/ 07Programme Expenditure

4%

51%

14%

18%

13%

Capital Expenditure

Personnel Expenditure

Commissioners remuneration

Operational Expenditure

Programme Expenditure

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Donor Funding 2005/6

•Mott Foundation Research on Women’s Participation in Local

Governance

•Heinrich Böhl StiftungGender Opinion Survey

•Premier’s Discretionary FundEastern Cape Province

•European UnionCivil Society Advocacy Programme (with

other C9s)

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Research

Monitoring and evaluation activities:Gender Mainstreaming innational and provincial departments, local authorities, political parties (50/50 campaign), ordinary citizens gender opinions

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ResearchResearch 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

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Public Education and Information

Educational Programmes• Campaigns

• Media Releases

• Workshops

• Exhibitions

• Gender Dialogues

• Development of resource material

• Summits

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Public Education and Information

Information Programmes

• Publications– Posters, pamphlets, training manuals

• Resource Centre- Establishment of Resource Centres in Provinces;

Archiving

• Exhibitions- 28413

• Information management

• Website

• IT support

- Policy

- Support and maintenance

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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 6%

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

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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

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Outputs: Parliamentary Office

Submissions to Parliament

•Engage in Parliamentary Committees on upcoming bills

•Consult with civil society and relevant stakeholders

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Thank you