M Tshabalala-Msimang: 50/50 Representation of Women campaign

19 February 2009

Good morning. I would like to thank the joint monitoring committee on the
quality of life and status of women in Parliament, on behalf of the National
Gender Machinery, for hosting this multi-party media launch of the National
Campaign for 50/50 Representation of Women in politics and decision making.

This is a culmination of several consultative meetings, which include the
Southern African Development Community (SADC) meeting held in South Africa to
outline the need to accelerate the 50/50 quota for implementation politically
and in the private sector. The National Gender Machinery (NGM) also held
special consultative meetings to access and formulates a strategy to support
various stakeholders, focusing on women and governance.

In line with the SADC Protocol on gender and development, which we recently
signed in August 2008, and which we will be forwarding to national Parliament
for ratification in the near future, all SADC Member States will be embarking
upon national campaigns on the 50/50 representation of women. Globally the
current call is for the 50/50 quota in all political and decision-making
structures and also at the implementation level. It is not just about numbers
of women but it is a platform from which women can influence meaningful change,
and make a difference to the lives of all women.

The African Union (AU) Gender Policy which was adopted by AU Ministers of
Gender in 2008 December in the Kingdom of Lesotho (Maseru) emphasises the
creation of an enabling and stable environment for women and gender-sensitive
budgets.
South Africa also stands to benefit a lot from this campaign. We have been
working with the civic society to shape the campaign. It has been consistently
demonstrated globally that the under-representation of women in politics and
decision making positions, has an adverse effect on national development as a
whole.

Through this campaign, women can start positioning themselves in the light
of the coming general elections by voting for more women, as such secure better
balance in the way their organisations conduct their dealings. We should be
seeing progressive increases as opposed to regression in terms of
representation, particularly at the political level to influence meaningful
change.

The national campaign is envisaged to meet the target of 2014, as required
by the Gender and Development Protocol. This is to ensure that all legislative
and other interventions are accompanied by public awareness campaigns calling
for a commitment to at least 50% representation. These campaigns, including the
use of affirmative actions measures, should demonstrate the vital link between
the equal representation and participation of women and men in decision-making
positions.

We are again reminded that such processes requires adequate funding and full
support and commitment by the political leadership which will then cascade into
the administrative and governance spheres of society, at all levels and in all
sectors, including the private and corporate world. We urge all political
parties to carefully scrutinise the election lists for the 50/50
representation, and to develop strategies to take the campaign forward.

The campaign will enable us to play a positive and dynamic role in bringing
about social justice in South Africa, thus improving the lives of the most
disadvantaged and dispossessed in society - the majority of these happen to be
women. We need to continue building capacity of women to participate fully
through leadership and gender sensitive training and monitoring, in all
aspects. We also need to ensure that support structures are provided for women
already in politics and decision-making positions.

Commitment to address gender imbalances has been demonstrated by our
government in the state of the nation address 2009, when President Kgalema
Motlanthe stated that “there is a need to facilitate the processes aimed at
strengthening the machineries dealing with matters of gender equality such as
the 50/50 representation in decision making structures.” The implementation of
this commitment is critical in ensuring that transformation, in general takes
place, but more specifically, that we are able to protect and promote the human
rights and human dignity of this targeted group.

Our National Gender Policy Framework of 2002 which was developed through a
collaborative effort of the government and civil society, outlines the national
vision of a society in which women and men are able to realise their full
potential and to participate as equal partners in creating a just and
prosperous society for all. We are in the process of reviewing this National
Gender Policy Framework to ensure that it also speaks to both the developments
in our country and the challenges ahead.

Institutional gender landscape remains sharply revealing of persistent
patterns of formal and substantive inequality. The institutional approach to
women representation has largely failed to advance gender equality and women’s
empowerment in all spheres of decision-making. This, coupled with a weak and
fragmented women’s sector, has resulted in a continuation of women’s
inequitable inclusion in mainstream political and public life.

As we are at the phase of preparing ourselves for elections on 22 April
2009, we need to initiate ongoing awareness campaigns for members using
different party meetings and forums as well as organised debate or discussion
sessions. We also need to deepen understanding on the value of equal
representation, as well as develop internal systems and processes for
institutionalisation of gender mainstreaming at all levels. Political parties
and civil society should begin to engage on these issues, and also utilise
community focused strategies to reach local and rural communities.

To take forward this 50/50 campaign, I would like you to consider the
following messages, which we have designed to promote the campaign:

Main theme:
50/50 = 100 percent gender equality

Sub themes:

* “women can rule” (women in decision-making positions)
* “a woman’s place is everywhere” (no glass ceilings for women’s
workplace)
* “young women will shape our future - invest in their empowerment” (even the
sky is not the limit)
* “women are the backbone of society” (poverty alleviation cannot be done
without women - they are the first solution).

Thank you.

Issued by: The Presidency
19 February 2009
Source: The Presidency (http://www.thepresidency.gov.za/)