Governance

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  aims to combine the vision and principles that COSATU aspires towards, with practical relations in the working workplace and economy, in trade unions and in broader society. The Doucment is a policy framework to guide COSATU's efforts to transform gender relations.  This policy document was debated and adopted and the National Gender Conference (held on 5-7 July 2000).

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.

This paper was presented by Commissioner Themba Kgasi at the North West Province Gender Forum meeting in June 2003. The paper highlights the different aspects and responsibilities of South Africa's national gender machinery. It provides a useful background to the establishment of the machinery and it's parts.

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.

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.

 

We are pleased to present this report on women in power in the hemisphere.  Women in Latin America and the Caribbean are making tremendous strides towards achieving political leadership.  In 2000, the Inter-American Dialogue and the Inter-American Development Bank partnered to host a dialogue of women political leaders.  The report from that meeting concluded that in Latin America and the Caribbean, "the highest circles of power still remain largely male dominated".

Hot stuff or hot air? Is Liberia's Iron Lady, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, great because she is the first and only woman president on the continent, or is her unique position in fact beguiling?

She swept South Africa's most powerful women off their feet this week. She was here to deliver the sixth annual Nelson Mandela lecture and to encourage bilateral trade ahead of the establishment of South Africa's diplomatic mission in Liberia in the 2008-2009 financial years.

On Friday, at the Dialogue for Justice, at the Gordon Institute of Business Science (Gibs) in Johannesburg, she was hailed as a trailblazer and a bullet dodger; the one African woman who had the strength in a time of war, and amid incredible hostility, to campaign for the presidency of Liberia - in a man's world.

This handbook focuses on efforts to bring women into governance, illustrating ways that organizations and activists around the world can foster greater gender equity in civic engagement, advocacy, voting and governance efforts to improve the quality of life for everyone. Six chapters highlight key approaches to supporting women's leadership to make governments worldwide more responsive to the needs of women.