Policy

A proposed gender policy in community radio was presented for the first time at the regional roundtable meeting of the World Association of Community Broadcasters (AMARC) on 9 July 2008 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Informed by an extensive survey conducted by AMARC-Women's International Network Asia-Pacific, the proposed gender policy reinforces the crucial nature of women's participation in community radio.

Based on AMARC-WIN Asia Pacific survey, 45 per cent of staff and volunteers are women but only 28 per cent of them are in leadership positions and 30 per cent performing technical tasks. Among the concerns that they cited were: lack of technical skills; security and violence; less chances to present their view points; and less access to decision-making. They complained of the male-dominated radio set-up, that intimidates them and hinders their participation.

This, the South Africa Country Report to the UN Commission on the Status of Women, 2007 was prepared by Sonke Gender Justice Network on behalf of the Office on the Status of Women, Office of the Presidency, Government of the Republic of South Africa, for the 51st Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, New York, March 2007

This Gender Policy Framework outlines South Africa's vision for gender equality and for how it intends to realise this ideal. Like other generic policy documents which are transsectoral, such as the "White Paper on Transforming the Public Service," it is not meant to be prescriptive for the various sectors of government. Instead, it details the overarching principles, which will be integrated by all sectors into their own sectoral policies, practices and programmes. This Framework is presented by the Office on the Status of Women, located in the Presidency, and presented to and passed by, cabinet.

The Joint Monitoring Committee on Improvement of Quality of Life and Status of Women is part of the South African gender Machinery, and must monitor and evaluate progress with regard to the improvement of the quality of life and status of women in South Africa. It does so with specific reference to the Government's commitments to the Beijing platform of action; with regard to the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women; and to any other applicable international instruments. It may also make recommendations to both or either of the Houses, or any joint or House committee on any matter arising from the above. This document contains basic information and contact details of members.

It is estimated that between 100-140 million girls and women worldwide have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM). At the current rates of population increase and with the slow decline in these procedures, it is estimated that each year a further 2 million girls are at risk from the practice. Most of the women and girls affected live in 28 African countries, and a few in the Middle East and Asia. They are also increasingly found in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States of America, mostly among immigrants from countries where FGM is the tradition.

The National Cervical Screening Policy is a key part of the cervical screening pathway and states that routine Pap smears should be carried out every two years for women who have no history of abnormal pathology or no current symptoms. All women who have even been sexually active should start having Pap smears between the ages of 18 to 20 years, or one or two years after first sexual activity, whichever is later.

Based on the Habitat Agenda, UNCHS (Habitat) is addressing increasing urbanisation and the problem of urban poverty strategically through two campaigns, on Secure Tenure and Good Urban Governance. Meeting the needs of women will be a key measure of their  success. Enhancing the role of women in urban governance is a pre-condition for the inclusive city promoted by the Global Campaign for Good Urban Governance.

A policy on women and urban governance should address two aspects. One is women's increased representation in local decision-making. The second is greater attention to issues of concern to women. Both are examined in this policy paper, which also reviews current efforts to address them. The norms of the Campaign for Good Urban Governance are then used as a lens to focus on the policy issues with which the paper concludes.

 

Good governance and gender equality have been at the cutting edge of development debates over the last decade. Empirical evidence shows that both are central to development. This gap between de jure and de facto equality has sharpened the focus on women access to, and participation in, structures and processes of governance. It is now generally accepted that unless women constitute a `critical mass of at least one third of those in decision making, their mere presence makes little difference to the outcomes of governance. The mere presence of women in structures of governance justifiable in its own right in equity terms does not guarantee that gender considerations are mainstreamed in laws, policies and programmes.

Understanding of gender issues in governance, therefore, requires looking at participation and decision making of women and men in the different institutions. Therefore, addressing gender gaps in governance would entail what is the meaning of engendering different institutions and at what levels, for good governance to take place.

This landmark Act legalises termination of pregancy, and sets out South African law regrarding terminations.

The 2nd Ordinary Session of the Conference of African Ministers of Health, meeting in Gaborone, Botswana, in October 2005, adopted this, the Continental Policy Framework on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights which was endorsed by AU Heads of State in January 2006. The Continental Policy Framework on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights addresses the reproductive health and rights challenges faced by Africa. This Maputo Plan of Action for the Operationalisation of the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Continental Policy Framework seeks to take the continent forward towards the goal of universal access to comprehensive sexual andreproductive health services in Africa by 2015. It is a short term plan for the period up to 2010 built on nine action areas: Integration of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services into PHC, repositioning family planning, youth-friendly services, unsafe abortion, quality safe motherhood, resource mobilization, commodity security and monitoring and evaluation. The Plan is premised on SRH in its fullest context as defined at ICPD/PoA 1994 taking into account the life cycle approach. These elements of SRHR includes Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH); Safe Motherhood and newborn care; Abortion Care1; Family planning; Prevention and Management of Sexually Transmitted Infections including STI/HIV/AIDS; Prevention and Management of Infertility; Prevention and Management of Cancers of the Reproductive System; Addressing mid-life concerns of boys, girls, men and women; Health and Development; the Reduction of Gender-based Violence; Interpersonal Communication and Counselling; and Health education.