Parliament adopts Women Empowerment and Gender Equality Bill

The Portfolio Committee on Women, Children and People with Disabilities adopts Women Empowerment and Gender Equality Bill (WEGE)

The Portfolio Committee on Women, Children and people with Disabilities has today adopted the Women Empowerment and Gender Equality Bill (WEGE). This marks yet another important step towards the actualisation of the empowerment of women as well as the strengthening of existing equality laws.

The WEGE Bill was instituted to give effect to section 9 of the Constitution in so far as the empowerment of women and gender equality is concerned by establishing a legislative framework for the empowerment of women.

Furthermore, the Bill also aims to to align all aspects of laws and implementation of laws relating to women empowerment in addition to addressing the appointment and representation of women in decision making positions and structures.

Some of the important areas that the Bill touches on include provisions for improved and equal access to training, educational and skill development opportunities, measures to promote and protect women’s reproductive health, elimination of discrimination and prejudicial practices including gender based violence. The bill further emphasises the need for more representation of women in decision making positions in designated bodies. 

“After considering up to 41 submissions from relevant organisations and individuals and working on various drafts, the Committee is now certain that it has produced a Bill that will surely deliver on the promise of empowerment and equality to many women in the country,” said Chairperson of the committee, Mrs Dorothy Ramodibe. 

The Committee feels strongly that the Bill will be an enabling tool in entrenching the centrality of women empowerment and equality issues in all public and private bodies especially taking into consideration the fact that women account for more than 50% of the population of the country.

The committee will recommend that the National Assembly pass the Bill.
  
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact: 
Malatswa Evans Molepo, Parliamentary Communication Services
Tel: 021 403 8438
Cell: 0732971914
E-mail: mmolepo@parliament.gov.za

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