The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development in conjunction with the Human Rights Commission, the Gender Commission and the Public Protector, Uniwest Law School, Legal Aid South Africa, Judiciary and other key stakeholders will be hosting an Equality Indaba at Mmabatho Palms on 21 October 2009 starting at 08h30.
Although significant progress has been made in restructuring and transforming our society and its institutions, systemic inequalities and unfair discrimination remain challenges in our Constitutional Democracy.
The Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination (Act No.2 of 2000) (The Act), known as Equality Legislation was enacted to give effect to Section 9 of the Constitution and International Instruments such as the convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women and the convention on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination. The purpose of the act was to prevent and prohibit unfair discrimination on the grounds of race, gender, disability, prohibition of hate speech, harassment and dissemination or publication of unfair discriminatory information to address these inequalities and unfair discrimination.
“In our region we have trained 33 magistrates and 33 clerks. All courts are now designated as Equality Courts in this financial year,” said Mrs Raesibe Tladi Director Legal Services.
“Constitutional institutions such as the Human Rights Commission, Gender Commission, Public Protector have a mandate to investigate these matters and conclude them without necessarily referring them to the Equality Courts. In turn Equality Court can refer matters to the above mentioned institutions. The Constitutional institutions are also competent to assist complainants to institute proceedings in Equality Court, particularly complainants which are disadvantaged. Complainants can also approach our Courts directly and they will be assisted by the Equality Court Clerks.
This indaba is aimed at discussing challenges hindering the effective functioning of the Equality Courts in the province and to come up with possible interventions to improve the effectiveness of these courts.”
Members of media are invited to capture this historic indaba.
Media enquiries:
Isaac Mokaila
Tel: 018 389 8355
Cell: 073 742 3906
Tsietsi Malema
Tel: 018 389 8301
E-mail: tzmalema@justice.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Justice and Constitutional Development
20 October 2009
