The Departments of Cooperative Governance and of Traditional Affairs will host the Women in Local Governance Conference from 1 August to 2 August 2013 at the Gallagher Conference Centre, in Midrand to be attended by women in local government, civil society and other invited stakeholders.
Under the theme: “Empowering Women Towards a more Integrated Cooperative Governance System”, the Conference aims to review the progress made in mainstreaming gender issues in local government as well as guiding municipalities in developing appropriate policies and programmes.
Coming as it does at the beginning of the Women’s month, the conference will provide an opportune moment for women to make a reflection on the strides that they have made with regards to the struggle for the empowerment of women 57 years since the historic women’s march to the Union Buildings. Participants will also use this opportunity to reflect on the extent to which South Africa has gone to respond to the SADC protocol on Gender as adopted by the South African Development Community in 2008.
The SADC gender protocol The SADC Protocol on Gender and Development looks into integration and main streaming of gender issues into the SADC Programme of Action and Community Building initiatives which is important to the sustainable development of the SADC region.
The Protocol aims to provide for the empowerment of women, to eliminate discrimination and achieve gender equality by encouraging and harmonising the development and implementation of gender responsive legislation, policies and programmes and projects.
Contact person: Mr Botshelo Rakate
Cell: 074 114 3877
E-mail: BotsheloR@cogta.gov.za
