The Multi-Party Women’s Caucus held a fruitful and productive two-day workshop to discuss how to move forward the liberation and emancipation of all women in South Africa.
The Caucus is made up of women of all political parties represented in Parliament. A representative from the Southern African Development Community’s Parliamentary Forum also addressed the Caucus on gender issues and gains made in the region.
Committee Chairperson, Ms Rosalia Morutoa, said the Multi-Party Women’s Caucus, the Portfolio Committee on Women, and the Select Committee on Cooperative Governance are important structures in ensuring that women remain on the agenda of Parliament, and that gender concerns are prioritised in committees and other platforms within the Legislature.
Women need to progress to the next levels of development, and this can be done through the adequate mainstreaming of gender issues. The issue of women representation in National Council of Provinces, 18% of Committee are chaired by women, was highlighted as a concern. These Committees also tend to deal with softer social issues.
The Caucus decided that the attainment of a 50/50 representivity was no reason for Members of Parliament to relax on the issue as the gains made in this quest might be lost. The Caucus noted that the programming of Parliament was currently not sensitive towards the needs of women as female MPs still have a domestic role to fulfil.
The question of land ownership by women and how they are at times in terms of religion or culture excluded from owning or inheriting land was emphasised. It further noted that poverty is a feminine issue. The face of poverty in our country is still very feminine; women make up the greater amount of grant recipients.
The Caucus decided that it would liaise with the various Chairperson of Committees of both house of Parliament to ensure that Departments would have to indicate how far their policies goes to address gender issues.
Time allocation and budgetary constraints are some of the challenges highlighted which impact on the Caucus not adequately being able to push the agenda of women.
Closer collaboration with the Portfolio Committee on Women in the Presidency is required to ensure that legislatures guide the development of laws that will inform the needs of women. This could also lead to ensuring that gender specific questions are asked to the Executive.
Ms Morutoa said Members of Parliament are in a unique position to influence the policy making process to better represent the needs of women and to ensure that the collective voice of women has impact. The role of civil society organisations in ensuring that Members stay connected with the electorate cannot be overemphasised.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairpersons, please contact:
Ms Rajaa Azzakani
Tel: 021403 8437
Cell: 082 560 9610
Email: razzakani@parliament.gov.za
