On 9 to 11 April 2014, the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Women (UN Women), Oxfam, Department of Public Enterprises (DPE), and the Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities (DWCPD) will host a national summit on gender equality, at the Lakes Hotel, Benoni, Ekurhuleni.
This summit is designed in recognition of 20 years of democracy in South Africa, to identify progress that has been made with regard to attaining gender equality in South Africa, and provide a platform for critical debate on persistent challenges and inequalities in this regard. The summit will be attended by eminent persons and experts in their fields from government and civil society in South Africa, augmented by key stakeholders from the UN African Union (AU), and relevant institutions on the continent.
The CGE and partners are of the view that in the past two decades institutional and legislative advances have been made towards attaining gender equality and improving the status of women. However, it is critical that at this juncture in South African history, we assess the real improvements in the everyday reality for the majority of women in South Africa. From the experiences of women in this country and elsewhere globally, we continue to learn that laws on their own are not enough to create the requisite change that results in gender equality. Globally, experience indicates that changes to legal frameworks are necessary, but on their own insufficient to address the real discrimination, inequality and burdens imposed on women.
In addition, we need to change the structures, social and cultural norms and behaviours that permit and perpetuate such discrimination, and within which the law operates. And further, as a country, we need to plan appropriate interventions and budget accordingly, to bring about such change.
While there have been remarkable changes in social attitudes towards women in the past two decade, this change in attitude has not yet resulted in the elimination of much of the discrimination and obstacles experienced by women in engaging with institutions of the state, society and the private sector.
The CGE and partners envisage that through the envisaged high-level engagements at the summit, with critical state and non-state actors in this sector, a concrete action plan will be developed to chart key interventions to bring about gender equality guarantees and commitments.
Enquiries:
Javu Baloyi
Cell: 083 579 3306
